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Interrelationships of the T hreskiornithidae and the phylogenetic position of the M iocene ibis ‘ P legadis ’ paganus from the S aint‐ G érand‐le‐ P uy area in central F rance
Author(s) -
De Pietri Vanesa L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/ibi.12062
Subject(s) - clade , osteology , genus , ibis , synapomorphy , taxon , biology , zoology , phylogenetic tree , evolutionary biology , paleontology , biochemistry , gene
The fossil ibis P legadis paganus is known from the E arly M iocene of the S aint‐ G érand‐le‐ P uy area, F rance. It was first described in the 19th century by Milne‐Edwards (1867–1868), who noticed similarities with members of the extant genera E udocimus and P legadis , a view endorsed by subsequent descriptions. The fossil's present placement within the genus P legadis is not supported by synapomorphic features, and important differences with members of this genus have been noted in the past. The present analysis demonstrates that retention of P . paganus in the extant genus P legadis is no longer justified, and it is therefore referred to the new genus G erandibis . A phylogenetic analysis of 55 osteological characters supports placement of G erandibis pagana in a clade together with Neotropical taxa. This analysis also allowed for an evaluation of the relationships among extant threskiornithids. Contrary to results obtained in molecular‐based phylogenies, the present analysis supports a basal divergence of crown group Threskiornithidae into a clade comprising T hreskiornis and P latalea and a clade comprising all other ibises. Within the latter, two clades, one made up of O ld W orld taxa and the other consisting predominantly of N ew W orld taxa, were recovered.