Messelasturidae

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Messelasturidae
Temporal range: Eocene
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Eocene (possible Paleocene representative) [1]
Tynskya eocaena (cropped).jpg
Tynskya eocaena
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Eufalconimorphae
Family:† Messelasturidae
Mayr 2005
Genera

Messelasturidae is an extinct family of birds known from the Eocene of North America and Europe. Their morphology is a mosaic that in some aspects are very similar to modern hawks and falcons, but in others are more similar to parrots. Initially interpreted as stem-owls, more recent studies have suggested a closer relationship to parrots and passerines. Their ecology is enigmatic.

Contents

Description

Skull of Messelastur gratulator Messelastur gratulator (cropped).jpg
Skull of Messelastur gratulator

On the skull, Messelasturidae possessed a raptorial beak and a large supraorbital process. [2]

On the feet, messelasturids lacked an ossified supratendineal bridge on the distal tibiotarsus. [3] They also featured raptorlike ungual phalanges. [4]

They were likely ground dwelling carnivores. They existed at an age range of 61.7 to 40.4 Ma. [5]

Tynskya is characterized by a distinctive morphology of the tarsometatarsus. [6]

Discovery and classification

Messelastur gratulator was originally described in 1994 from two skulls with associated vertebrae, found in the Eocene aged Messel pit, Germany. [7] Tynskya eocaena was described from specimens found in the Eocene aged Green River Formation in the western United States by Gerald Mayr in 2000, with indeterminate similar remains also being noted from the equivalently aged London Clay of southern England. [6] In 2005, a more complete skeleton of Messelastur was described, and it and Tynskya were placed into their own family Messelasturidae by Mayr, as the sister group of Strigiformes or possibly Falconiformes. [8] An additional specimen of Messelastur from Messel pit was described in 2011 by Mayr, finding that Messelasturidae was closely related to the extinct family Halcyornithidae, and both were likely stem-groups to Psittaciformes. [2] A study in 2021 described a new species of Tynskya, T. waltonensis from the London Clay. A phylogenetic analysis constrained to molecular data conducted in the study found messelasturids closely related to Psittacopasserae, the clade containing Passeriformes and Psittaciformes, but a sister group relationship with Halcyornithidae was not recovered. [9]

Ecology

Due to the mosaic nature of the morphology of messelasturids, their ecology is difficult to assess. It is likely they had a specialised feeding ecology. It is unlikely that they regularly searched the ground for food or engaged in hawking via sallying flights from perches. It is possible that they had a raptorial ecology, and hard shelled invertebrates have also been suggested as a food source, but other items like fruit and seeds cannot be ruled out. [9]

Distribution

Fossils of Messelastur are known from Germany (Messel). Tynskya remains have been found in the US (Green River Formation), and in the UK (London Clay), illustrating the resemblance between the early Eocene birds of North America and Europe. [6] Indeterminate messelasturid remains have also been reported from the early Eocene Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia in the United States. [10] An indeterminate bird from the Paleocene aged Menat maar deposit in France bears similarities to both Messelasturidae and Halcyornithidae. [1]

Related Research Articles

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 2000.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 2004.

<i>Masillaraptor</i> Extinct genus of falcons

Masillaraptor is an extinct genus of masillaraptorid, a group of primitive falconiforms, from the Middle Eocene Messel Pit, Germany. It is a long-legged relative of the living falcons.

Eurofluvioviridavis is a genus of extinct primitive birds from the Middle Eocene Messel Pit, Germany. It contains a single species, Eurofluvioviridavis robustipes. It is related to Avolatavis and Vastanavis, other members of the family Vastanavidae.

Eostrix is a genus of extinct primitive owls in the family Protostrigidae, along with Oligostrix and Minerva. These owls date from the early Eocene of the United States, Europe, and Mongolia. They have been described based on fossil remains. The genus was created by Pierce Brodkorb in 1971 to place a fossil species known until that time as Protostrix mimica.

Vastanavidae is an extinct family of birds related to parrots and passerine birds. They are known from fossils from Eocene sites in India, Europe, and North America. The vastanavids resemble parrots and the extinct parrot relative Quercypsitta in their morphology, including the partially zygodactyl foot, in which two toes could face opposite the other two.

<i>Messelastur</i> Extinct genus of birds

Messelastur is a genus of messelasturid bird. It is known from the Messel pit of Germany, which dates to the Eocene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halcyornithidae</span> Extinct family of birds

Halcyornithidae is an extinct family of telluravian birds thought to be related to the Psittaciformes (parrots), Passeriformes (songbirds), and to the extinct Messelasturidae. Halcyornithids have been found in various Eocene formations in Europe and North America. Widespread and diverse in the Early Eocene of North America and Europe, halcyornithids are not found in locales later than the Middle Eocene. Halcyornithids were small, arboreal birds with zygodactyl feet, with two toes facing forwards and two facing back, a trait shared with other tree-dwelling families of Eocene birds like the Zygodactylidae and the messelasturids. The skull of halcyornithids features a ridge of bone above the eye called the supraorbital process, similar to birds of prey. The relationships of the halcyornithids to other birds remain uncertain. Halcyornithids have been proposed as relatives to owls and as a lineage closer to parrots than to songbirds. Most recently, halcyornithids have been identified as the sister group of the clade including parrots and songbirds. It is also possible that Halcyornithidae is paraphyletic with respect to the Messelasturidae.

Protostrigidae is a prehistoric family of owls which occurred in North America, Europe, and Asia during the Eocene and early Oligocene periods. Genera include Eostrix, Minerva, Oligostrix, and Primoptynx. In 1983, Cécile Mourer-Chauviré demonstrated that Protostrix is a junior synonym of Minerva.

<i>Tynskya</i> Extinct genus of birds

Tynskya is a genus of messelasturid bird. It is known from a fossil of the North American Green River Formation and the London Clay Formation of England, both from the early Eocene.

Albrecht Manegold is a German ornithologist and paleontologist. He is the curator of the vertebrate collection at the State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe. He is known for contributions to the study of early passerine evolution. He has described extinct passerines and piciformes including the fossil treecreeper Certhia rummeli and the fossil woodpecker Australopicus nelsonmandelai.

This is an overview of the paleofauna of the Eocene Messel Formation as explored by the Messel Pit excavations in Germany. A former quarry and now UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Messel Formation preserves what once were a series of anoxic lakes surrounded by a sub-tropical rainforest during the Middle Eocene, approximately 47 Ma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masillaraptoridae</span> Extinct family of birds

Masillaraptoridae is an extinct family of stem-group falconiform birds from the Eocene of Europe. They are noted for their relatively long legs. Two genera have been named: Danielsraptor, from the London Clay of England, and Masillaraptor, from Messel Pit in Germany.

<i>Ypresiglaux</i> Extinct genus of strigiform birds

Ypresiglaux is an extinct genus of strigiform bird from the Early Eocene London Clay Formation of Essex, United Kingdom and Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia, United States. The genus contains two species: Y. michaeldanielsi, known from a partial skeleton, and Y. gulottai, known from a distal tarsometatarsus.

Halcyornis is an extinct genus of halcyornithid bird. It is known from a single neurocranium from the Early Eocene London Clay of southeastern England, and contains a single species, Halcyornis toliapicus. The type specimen of Halcyornis was the first fossil bird to be scientifically named.

Cyrilavis is an extinct genus of halcyornithid bird from the Early Eocene Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation, United States. The genus contains two species, Cyrilavis olsoni and Cyrilavis colburnorum.

Pulchrapollia is an extinct genus of halcyornithid bird from the Early Eocene London Clay of Walton-on-the-Naze, United Kingdom and the Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia, United States. The genus contains three species, Pulchrapollia gracilis, Pulchrapollia tenuipes and Pulchrapollia eximia.

Pseudasturides is an extinct genus of halcyornithid bird from the Middle Eocene Messel pit in Hesse, Germany, and possibly the Isle of Sheppey, United Kingdom. The genus is represented by a single species, Pseudasturides macrocephalus.

<i>Serudaptus</i> Extinct genus of birds

Serudaptus is an extinct genus of halcyornithid bird from the Middle Eocene Messel pit in Hesse, Germany. The genus contains one species, Serudaptus pohli, and is known for long, raptorial claws on its zygodactyl feet.

Eofringillirostrum is an extinct species of bird known from the Early Eocene Green River Formation of the Western United States and from the Messel Pit in Germany. The genus contains two species, Eofringillirostrum boudreauxi and Eofringillirostrum parvulum. They are the earliest known fossil birds to have a finch-like beak.

References

  1. 1 2 Mayr, Gerald; Hervet, Sophie; Buffetaut, Eric (2019). "On the diverse and widely ignored Paleocene avifauna of Menat (Puy-de-Dôme, France): new taxonomic records and unusual soft tissue preservation". Geological Magazine. 156 (3): 572–584. Bibcode:2019GeoM..156..572M. doi:10.1017/S0016756818000080. ISSN   0016-7568. S2CID   133878360.
  2. 1 2 Mayr, Gerald (2011-02-28). "Well-preserved new skeleton of the Middle Eocene Messelastur substantiates sister group relationship between Messelasturidae and Halcyornithidae (Aves, ?Pan-Psittaciformes)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 9 (1): 159–171. doi:10.1080/14772019.2010.505252. ISSN   1477-2019. S2CID   84569222.
  3. ↑ Mayr, Gerald (2005-09-30). "The postcranial osteology and phylogenetic position of the Middle Eocene Messelastur gratulator Peters, 1994—a morphological link between owls (Strigiformes) and falconiform birds?". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25 (3): 635–645. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0635:TPOAPP]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0272-4634. S2CID   37847975.
  4. ↑ Mayr, Gerald (March 2014). Smith, Andrew (ed.). "The origins of crown group birds: molecules and fossils". Palaeontology. 57 (2): 231–242. doi: 10.1111/pala.12103 . S2CID   85180754.
  5. ↑ "Fossilworks: Messelasturidae". fossilworks.org. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Mayr, Gerald (2000-05-01). "A new raptor-like bird from the Lower Eocene of North America and Europe". Senckenbergiana Lethaea. 80 (1): 59–65. doi:10.1007/BF03043664. ISSN   0037-2110. S2CID   58897862.
  7. ↑ Peters, D.S. (1994) Messelastur gratulator n. gen. n. spec., ein Greifvogel as der Grube Messel (Aves: Accipitridae). Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 170:3-9
  8. ↑ Mayr, Gerald (2005-09-30). "The postcranial osteology and phylogenetic position of the Middle Eocene Messelastur gratulator Peters, 1994—a morphological link between owls (Strigiformes) and falconiform birds?". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25 (3): 635–645. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0635:TPOAPP]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0272-4634. S2CID   37847975.
  9. 1 2 Mayr, Gerald (2021-06-01). "A partial skeleton of a new species of Tynskya Mayr, 2000 (Aves, Messelasturidae) from the London Clay highlights the osteological distinctness of a poorly known early Eocene "owl/parrot mosaic"". PalZ. 95 (2): 337–357. doi: 10.1007/s12542-020-00541-8 . ISSN   1867-6812.
  10. ↑ Mayr, Gerald; De Pietri, Vanesa; Paul Scofield, R. (2021-04-13). "New bird remains from the early Eocene Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia (USA), including the first records of the Messelasturidae, Psittacopedidae, and Zygodactylidae from the Fisher/Sullivan site". Historical Biology. 34 (2): 322–334. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2021.1910820 . ISSN   0891-2963.
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