Geranoididae
Geranoididae Temporal range: Eocene
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Infraclass: | Palaeognathae |
Family: | †Geranoididae Wetmore, 1933 |
Genera | |
Geranoididae is a clade of extinct birds from the early to late
Classification
It is rather unambiguous that geranoidids are either part of or stem representatives of
Taxonomy
The exact number of genera and species are also somewhat controversial. For instance, a recent study recovers Geranoides as possibly synonymous with Palaeophasianus and Eogeranoides as possibly synonymous with Paragrus.[4]
Paleobiology
Most geranoidids appear to have been flightless, with long legs and short wings, and presumably with herbivorous habits, giving them a profile and lifestyle similar to that of modern
Paleoecology and distribution
Geranoidids are most common in Eocene fossil sites in North America, particularly in the Willwood Formation were up to six species are known. Galligeranoides occurs in the Eocene of France in association with another flightless bird, Gastornis, potentially indicating that geranoidids took advantage of land bridges to arrive to Europe.[3] However, Mayr (2019) considered Galligeranoides to be a member of Palaeognathae closely related to Palaeotis, and formally transferred Galligeranoides from the family Geranoididae to the family Palaeotididae. This transfer restricts the fossil record of the family Geranoididae to North America.[6]
References
- hdl:2246/2598.
- hdl:2246/597.
- ^ .
- ^ S2CID 87692869.
- ^ a b Gerald Mayr (2009). Paleogene Fossil Birds
- ^ .
- .
- ^ Kurochkin, E.N. 1976. A survey of the Paleogene birds of Asia. Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology 27:75-86.
- ^ Kurochkin, E.N. 1981. New representatives and evolution of two archaic gruiform families in Eurasia. Transactions of the Soviet-Mongolian Paleontologial Expedition 15:59-85.
- S2CID 131264199.
- ^ Houde, Peter; Haubold, Hartmut (June 1987). "Palaeotis weigelti restudied: a small middle Eocene Ostrich (Aves: Struthioniformes)". Palaeovertebrata. 17 (2): 27–42.