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TWO NEW PARROTS (PSITTACIFORMES) FROM THE LOWER EOCENE FUR FORMATION OF DENMARK
Author(s) -
WATERHOUSE DAVID M.,
LINDOW BENT E. K.,
ZELENKOV NIKITA V.,
DYKE GARETH J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
palaeontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1475-4983
pISSN - 0031-0239
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00777.x
Subject(s) - incertae sedis , psittaciformes , zoology , genus , biology , paleogene , phylogenetic tree , fossil record , paleontology , biochemistry , cretaceous , gene
Two new fossil psittaciform birds from the Lower Eocene ‘Mo Clay’ (Fur Formation) of Denmark ( c . 54 Ma) are described. An unnamed specimen is assigned to the extinct avian family of stem‐group parrots, Pseudasturidae (genus and species incertae sedis ), while a second ( Mopsitta tanta gen. et sp. nov.) is the largest fossil parrot yet known. Both specimens are the first fossil records of these birds from Denmark. Although the phylogenetic position of Mopsitta is unclear (it is classified as family incertae sedis ), this form is phylogenetically closer to Recent Pstittacidae than to other known Palaeogene psittaciforms and may, therefore, represent the oldest known crown‐group parrot.