2009/08/01 by Gérald Mayr · 3 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Ichthyology and Marine Biology #Avian ecology and behavior
paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/mmng.200900003
openalex publication_date 2009/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> New specimens of the procellariiform taxon Diomedeoididae are reported from the early Oligocene (Rupelian) deposits of Wiesloch-Frauenweiler in southern Germany. Two skeletons belong to <i>Diomedeoides brodkorbi</i>, whereas isolated legs of larger individuals are tentatively assigned to <i>D. lipsiensis</i>, a species which has not yet been reported from the locality. The fossils allow the recognition of some previously unknown osteological features of the Diomedeoididae, including the presence of a vestige of the hallux. Diomedeoidids are characterized by extremely wide phalanges of the third and fourth toes, which also occur in some species of the extant procellariiform Oceanitinae (southern storm-petrels). The poorly developed processus supracondylaris dorsalis of the humerus supports a position of these Oligocene tubenoses outside a clade including the Diomedeidae (albatrosses), Procellariidae (shearwaters and allies), and Pelecanoididae (diving-petrels). It is hypothesized that like modern Oceanitinae, which have an equally short supracondylar process, diomedeoidids probably employed flap-gliding and used their immersed feet to remain stationary. <br><br> doi:<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mmng.200900003" target="blank">10.1002/mmng.200900003</a>