Vegaviidae

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Vegaviidae
Temporal range: Campanian–Maastrichtian Possible Paleocene record
Life restoration of
Vegavis iaai
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Clade: Avialae
Clade: Ornithurae
Order: †Vegaviiformes
Worthy et al., 2017
Family: †Vegaviidae
Agnolín et al., 2017
Genera

Vegaviidae is an extinct family of

anseriforms, which existed during the Late Cretaceous and possibly the Paleocene. Fossils attributed to the family have been found in Canada,[1] Chile, New Zealand, and Antarctica.[2]

Previously the genera Neogaeornis and Polarornis were classified as stem-loons based on the similarities in the anatomy of the leg structure.[3][4][5] However, there were some criticism to these assertions as the material are from incomplete specimens from Antarctica lacking several important loon characteristics.[6][7]

In 2017 Agnolín and colleagues performed a phylogenetic analysis of these genera in addition to the newly discovered

K–Pg boundary unaffected by the extinction event that occurred.[2] The authors also stated this is further evidence of Gondwana having an important role for the evolution of modern birds.[2]

Another 2017 paper by Worthy et al. focusing on the evolution and phylogenetic relationships of giant

Gastornithidae and the mihirungs).[9]

The description and phylogenetic placement of Maaqwi by McLachlan et al. (2017) found an alternative position for vegaviids as stem-birds in the more inclusive clade Ornithurae.[1]

In 2018 Mayr and colleagues did a review of vegaviid systematics stating that while Vegavis and Polarornis are likely sister genera based on overall similarities in their femur and

galloanserine affinities for Vegaviidae.[10] Mayr et al. (2018) commented that to try to classify all southern hemisphere birds into a single clade is premature as it may not illustrate the complex relationships and the convergent evolution birds have undergone.[10]

References

  1. ^
    PMID 29220405
    .
  2. ^
    S2CID 13246547
    .
  3. doi:10.1080/02724634.1992.10011438
    .
  4. ^ Hope, S. (2002). "The Mesozoic radiation of Neornithes." Pp. 339-388 in Chiappe, L.M. and Witmer, L. (eds.), Mesozoic Birds: Above the Heads of Dinosaurs.
  5. ^ Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche, Javier N. Gelfo, New Antarctic findings of Upper Cretaceous and lower Eocene loons (Aves: Gaviiformes), Annales de Paléontologie Volume 101, Issue 4, October–December 2015, Pages 315–324
  6. ^ Feduccia, A. (1999). The Origin and Evolution of Birds. 2nd edition. Yale University Press.
  7. S2CID 1070943
    .
  8. S2CID 4389926
    .
  9. PMID 29134094
    .
  10. ^
    S2CID 134876425
    .
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