An assessment of the diversity of early Miocene Scolopaci (Aves, Charadriiformes) from Saint‐Gérand‐le‐Puy (Allier, France)

Abstract

‘Totanus’lartetianus, Elorius paludicola and ‘Tringa’gracilis are the three scolopacid birds from the early Miocene of Saint‐Gérand‐le‐Puy described by the French palaeontologist Milne‐Edwards in the 19th century. Since then, no revision of these taxa has been performed. Our re‐examination revealed that not much of the material originally assigned to ‘Totanus’lartetianus can be retained within the species. Presumably plesiomorphic features of the humerus – and potentially the coracoid we attributed to this taxon – indicate that it is misplaced in the extant scolopacid genus and may not even belong to the Scolopacidae (sandpipers and allies), and we therefore place it in the new genus Scolopacimilis. Comparisons of the material assigned to Elorius paludicola and ‘Tringa’gracilis show that they are morphologically similar, both exhibiting distinct scolopacid anatomical features. The latter, however, cannot be referred to the extant taxon Tringa and is classified into the new genus Parvelorius. We further introduce three new species, ?Elorius limosoides sp. nov., and ?Parvelorius calidris sp. nov., which we have tentatively assigned to the extinct scolopacid genera Elorius and Parvelorius, respectively, and Becassius charadriioides gen. et. sp. nov., which, together with Scolopacimilis, display a morphology uncharacteristic for extant Scolopaci. For the first time we have assigned skulls to some of the postcranial elements described in this study. The presence of at least six species of Scolopaci from the early Miocene considerably increases the number of members of the group known from this time.

Interrelationships of the Threskiornithidae and the phylogenetic position of the Miocene ibis ‘Plegadis’paganusfrom the Saint-Gérand-le-Puy area in central France

“…m) but is absent in the scolopacid L. limosa . This feature was not visible in the tibiotarsi described by De Pietri and Mayr (), but the examination of further material has corroborated that these tibiotarsi can only be attributed to G. pagana . As in extant Threskiornithidae, the sulcus extensorius is situated medially (Fig.…”

“…As already indicated, tibiotarsi NMB S.G.4016 and NMB S.G.698 were erroneously attributed to the scolopacid bird E. limosoides from the Early Miocene of Saint‐Gérand‐le‐Puy by De Pietri and Mayr (). Although superficially similar to the corresponding bone of the Black‐tailed Godwit Limosa limosa , contrary to the condition in most charadriiforms, the medial and lateral condyles are approximately the same size.…”

“…The type material of G. pagana was listed by Cheneval () and Mlíkovský () under P. paganus . Tibiotarsi NMB S.G.4016 and NMB S.G.6698 were incorrectly referred to the Early Miocene scolopacid bird Elorius limosoides by De Pietri and Mayr (), and should therefore not be considered in any future discussion regarding this taxon.…”

Sixteen vetted fossil calibrations for divergence dating of Charadriiformes (Aves, Neognathae)

“…Although those taxa and other fragmentary remains referred to the clade likely represent examples of fossil Scolopaci (reviewed by Mayr, 2009), none of those taxa can be confidently referred to extant genera (i.e., crown Scolopaci), and those fossils should not be used to calibrate node ages until their systematic positions can be more precisely established (Mayr, 2009;Smith, 2011a;De Pietri and Mayr, 2012 basis of apomorphic characters of the cranium and postcranium (Ballmann, 2004). The following apomorphies that support referral of Mirolia brevirostrata to Calidridinae were cited by Ballmann (2004:111): "the shallow and narrow origin of m. depressor mandibulae on the cranium and the corresponding short processus retroarticularis; the relatively short bill, with a moderately reinforced dorsal bar; the shape of the processus supracondylaris dorsalis on the humerus; humerus about the same length as the tarsometatarsus."…”

“…The following apomorphies that support referral of Mirolia brevirostrata to Calidridinae were cited by Ballmann (2004:111): "the shallow and narrow origin of m. depressor mandibulae on the cranium and the corresponding short processus retroarticularis; the relatively short bill, with a moderately reinforced dorsal bar; the shape of the processus supracondylaris dorsalis on the humerus; humerus about the same length as the tarsometatarsus." Although material referred to Mirolia brevirostrata has not been included in a phylogenetic analysis, the referral of material to this clade has not been questioned (De Pietri and Mayr, 2012). Minimum Age.…”