2008/05/01 by David Waterhouse, Bent Erik Kramer Lindow, Н. В. Зеленков +1 · 6 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Evolution and Paleontology Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00777.x
openalex publication_date 2008/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Abstract: 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.