Adelalopus is an extinct genus of palaelodid bird from the lowermost Oligocene of Belgium. It is the oldest member of its family and the largest known palaelodid from Europe, slightly larger than Megapaloelodus goliath. It contains a single species, Adelalopus hoogbutseliensis.
The remains of Adelalopus were discovered at the locality of Hoogbutsel, Belgium, approximately 30 km (19 mi) east of Brussels and are stored at the Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium. The type specimen IRScNB Av 71 consists of an incomplete furcula, parts of a coracoid, a scapula, the distal end of an ulna and the shaft of a radius as well as an incomplete tarsometatarsus. A second specimen (IRScNB Av 72) is referred to the genus, consisting of the extremitas omalis of the left coracoid. The same element is present for the right coracoid in the holotype. All material included in the type specimen is considered to be from a single individual based on the proximity of the bones, their size and their similar surface texture. The referred coracoid was found in a different box, but may potentially have belonged to the same individual as well.[1]
The name Adelalopus is an anagram of Palaelodus, a relative of the genus. The species name references the type locality.[1]
Description
The furcula has a wide U-shape and on the caudal surface of the extremitas sternalis there is a marked depression like in Palaelodus.[2] Unlike in Palaeolodus however the center of this element contains a deep and elongated cavity, which is regarded as one of the genus' diagnostic features. The apophysis of the wishbone is larger and better developed than in modern flamingos but incomplete. The coracoid is similar to that of Megapaloelodus, with the facies that articulates with the clavicle overhanging two pits separated from each other by a bulge. These same bits are weak in Palaelodus and missing entirely in modern flamingos. The medial and lateral sides of the cotyla scapularis are not sharply differentiated and the foramen for the supracoracoid nerve is well-developed and elliptical like in basal-anseriforms and phoenicopteriforms. The scapula is short with a slender shaft similar to Palaeolodus. The incomplete nature of the ulna makes comparison difficult, but it generally resembles what is expected from palaelodids and modern flamingos. Although fragmentary, the tarsometatarsus is diagnostic. Its cross section is rectangular like in modern flamingos and not compressed like in other palaelodids. The distal vascular foramen is larger and longer than in either palaelodids or phoenicopterids and in this state more closely resembles the Eocene bird Juncitarsus, which has been recovered as either a basal member of Mirandornithes or a stem-Phoenicopteriform. The trochlea of the second digit faces plantar like typical for the group and was positioned higher than the trochlea of the following two toes. As seen in Palaelodus, this trochlea was located further up than in modern flamingos.[1]
Adelalopus is slightly larger than Megapaloelodus goliath, making it the largest member of the Palaelodidae. The individual bones are identical in size to the extant coscoroba swan from South America.[1]
Paleoecology
The Hoogbutsel locality where the remains of Adelalopus were found is thought to represent what was once the shore of a lagoon. With the locality being considered to be early Oligocene in age, Adelalopus would be among the earliest known palaelodids. The function of the deep cavity located on the furcula is not known, it is however thought to be too large to be a simple pneumatic foramen and too small to enclose a tracheal loop.[1]
References
^ abcdeMayr, G.; Smith, R. (2002). "Avian remains from the lowermost Oligocene of Hoogbutsel (Belgium)" (PDF). Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Sciences de la Terre. 72: 139–150. ISSN 0374-6291.
^Mayr, G.; De Pietri, V.L. (2013). "A goose-sized anseriform bird from the late Oligocene of France: the youngest record and largest species of Romainvilliinae". Paläontol Z. 87 (3): 423–430. doi:10.1007/s12542-013-0165-5. S2CID 84593598.
February 09, 2023
adelalopus, extinct, genus, palaelodid, bird, from, lowermost, oligocene, belgium, oldest, member, family, largest, known, palaelodid, from, europe, slightly, larger, than, megapaloelodus, goliath, contains, single, species, hoogbutseliensis, temporal, range, . Adelalopus is an extinct genus of palaelodid bird from the lowermost Oligocene of Belgium It is the oldest member of its family and the largest known palaelodid from Europe slightly larger than Megapaloelodus goliath It contains a single species Adelalopus hoogbutseliensis AdelalopusTemporal range Rupelian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PhoenicopteriformesFamily PalaelodidaeGenus AdelalopusMayr amp Smith 2002Type speciesAdelalopus hoogbutseliensisMayr amp Smith 2002 Contents 1 History and naming 2 Description 3 Paleoecology 4 ReferencesHistory and naming EditThe remains of Adelalopus were discovered at the locality of Hoogbutsel Belgium approximately 30 km 19 mi east of Brussels and are stored at the Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium The type specimen IRScNB Av 71 consists of an incomplete furcula parts of a coracoid a scapula the distal end of an ulna and the shaft of a radius as well as an incomplete tarsometatarsus A second specimen IRScNB Av 72 is referred to the genus consisting of the extremitas omalis of the left coracoid The same element is present for the right coracoid in the holotype All material included in the type specimen is considered to be from a single individual based on the proximity of the bones their size and their similar surface texture The referred coracoid was found in a different box but may potentially have belonged to the same individual as well 1 The name Adelalopus is an anagram of Palaelodus a relative of the genus The species name references the type locality 1 Description EditThe furcula has a wide U shape and on the caudal surface of the extremitas sternalis there is a marked depression like in Palaelodus 2 Unlike in Palaeolodus however the center of this element contains a deep and elongated cavity which is regarded as one of the genus diagnostic features The apophysis of the wishbone is larger and better developed than in modern flamingos but incomplete The coracoid is similar to that of Megapaloelodus with the facies that articulates with the clavicle overhanging two pits separated from each other by a bulge These same bits are weak in Palaelodus and missing entirely in modern flamingos The medial and lateral sides of the cotyla scapularis are not sharply differentiated and the foramen for the supracoracoid nerve is well developed and elliptical like in basal anseriforms and phoenicopteriforms The scapula is short with a slender shaft similar to Palaeolodus The incomplete nature of the ulna makes comparison difficult but it generally resembles what is expected from palaelodids and modern flamingos Although fragmentary the tarsometatarsus is diagnostic Its cross section is rectangular like in modern flamingos and not compressed like in other palaelodids The distal vascular foramen is larger and longer than in either palaelodids or phoenicopterids and in this state more closely resembles the Eocene bird Juncitarsus which has been recovered as either a basal member of Mirandornithes or a stem Phoenicopteriform The trochlea of the second digit faces plantar like typical for the group and was positioned higher than the trochlea of the following two toes As seen in Palaelodus this trochlea was located further up than in modern flamingos 1 Adelalopus is slightly larger than Megapaloelodus goliath making it the largest member of the Palaelodidae The individual bones are identical in size to the extant coscoroba swan from South America 1 Paleoecology EditThe Hoogbutsel locality where the remains of Adelalopus were found is thought to represent what was once the shore of a lagoon With the locality being considered to be early Oligocene in age Adelalopus would be among the earliest known palaelodids The function of the deep cavity located on the furcula is not known it is however thought to be too large to be a simple pneumatic foramen and too small to enclose a tracheal loop 1 References Edit a b c d e Mayr G Smith R 2002 Avian remains from the lowermost Oligocene of Hoogbutsel Belgium PDF Bulletin de l Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique Sciences de la Terre 72 139 150 ISSN 0374 6291 Mayr G De Pietri V L 2013 A goose sized anseriform bird from the late Oligocene of France the youngest record and largest species of Romainvilliinae Palaontol Z 87 3 423 430 doi 10 1007 s12542 013 0165 5 S2CID 84593598 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Adelalopus amp oldid 1137358204, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
