Miosurnia

Miosurnia Temporal range: Miocene, 9.5–6.0  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Strigiformes
Family:	Strigidae
Genus:	† Miosurnia Li, Stidham, & Zhou, 2022
Species:	†M. diurna
Binomial name
†Miosurnia diurna Li, Stidham, & Zhou, 2022

Miosurnia (meaning "Miocene Surnia ") is an extinct genus of surniin bird from the Late Miocene Liushu Formation of Gansu Province, China. The genus contains a single species, Miosurnia diurna, known from a nearly complete, articulated skeleton. ^[1]

Discovery and naming

The Miosurnia holotype specimen, STM 20-1, was discovered in a layer of the Liushu Formation in the Linxia Basin of Gansu Province, China. The specimen is articulated and nearly complete, lacking only the right forelimb and left manual digits. ^[1]

In 2022, Li et al. published a paper analyzing the evolution of diurnalism in owls beginning in the late Miocene, and described Miosurnia diurna, a new genus and species of strigid. The generic name, "Miosurnia", references the Miocene age of the holotype specimen as well as the close relation of the genus to Surnia . The specific name, "diurna", refers to the diurnalism inferred for the animal. ^[1]

Description

An extant Surnia ulula (northern hawk-owl), a close relative of Miosurnia

The describing authors concluded that Miosurnia would have had a body size comparable to the extant strigidaen Surnia ulula (Northern hawk-owl), with an estimated body length (rostrum to pubis) of 30 centimetres (12 in) and body mass of about 236–318 grams (0.520–0.701 lb). ^[1]

Classification

In their phylogenetic analyses, Li et al. (2022) recovered Miosurnia as a member of the Surniini and sister taxon to Surnia + Glaucidium . All members of this clade are diurnal. ^[1]

Surniini	†Miosurnia diurna Surnia ulula Glaucidium passerinum Glaucidium sjostedti Glaucidium gnoma Glaucidium brasilianum

See also

• List of bird species described in the 2020s

References

1. Li, Zhiheng; A. Stidham, Thomas; Zheng, Xiaoting; Wang, Yan; Zhao, Tao; Deng, Tao; Zhou, Zhonghe (2022-03-28). "Early evolution of diurnal habits in owls (Aves, Strigiformes) documented by a new and exquisitely preserved Miocene owl fossil from China". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 119 (15): e2119217119. Bibcode:2022PNAS..11919217L. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2119217119 . ISSN   1091-6490. PMC   9169863 . PMID   35344399. S2CID   247776318.