Leptoptilos patagonicus is an extinct species of large-bodied Leptoptilini stork that existed during the Late Miocene. Fossils of the species were discovered in the San Madryn Formation in Chubut Province, Argentina.[1] L. patagonicus is the first fossil record discovery of a member of Leptoptilos in South America[2] and the only one found so far in the New World.[3]
Description
In comparison with extant Leptoptilos, L. patagonicus is larger than L. javanicus and similar in size to the largest members of L. dubius and L. crumeniferus.[4] In comparison with extant Leptoptilos, the hindlimbs are larger than the forelimbs, resulting in shorter wings relative to extant Leptotilos, a characteristic shared by the extinct Leptoptilos falconeri.[4] L. patagonicus is smaller than L. falconeri.[4]
The humerus and ulna are shorter than those of L. dubius and L. crumeniferus.[5] The tibiotarsus is shorter than that of L. falconeri, but slighter longer than those usually found in L. dubius and L. crumeniferus.[5]
References
- ^ Leptoptilos patagonicus at Fossilworks.org
- ^ Noriega & Cladera 2008, p. 593.
- ^ Zhang et al. 2012, p. 699.
- ^ a b c Noriega & Cladera 2008, p. 596.
- ^ a b Noriega & Cladera 2008, p. 599.
Bibliography
- Noriega, Jorge Ignacio; Cladera, Gerardo (2008). "First record of an extinct marabou stork in the Neogene of South America". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 53 (4): 593–600. doi:10.4202/app.2008.0404. hdl:11336/80472.
- Zhang, Zihui; Huang, Yunping; James, Helen F.; Hou, Lianhai (2012). "A Marabou (Ciconiidae: Leptoptilos) from the Middle Pleistocene of Northeastern China". The Auk. 129 (4): 699–706. doi:10.1525/auk.2012.11227. S2CID 55170353.
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