A New Species of Large, Terrestrial Caracara from Holocene Deposits in Southern Jamaica (Aves: Falconidae)

2008/12/01 by Storrs L. Olson · 4 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy #Avian ecology and behavior #Species Distribution and Climate Change

paper · pdf · doi:10.3356/jrr-08-18.1

openalex publication_date 2008/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/04/21

Abstract

A new species of caracara, Caracara tellustris, is described from cave deposits in the arid Portland Ridge area of southern Jamaica. It is characterized by great size and much reduced wings, and was probably almost completely terrestrial in habits if not even flightless. It was thus probably confined to the more arid southern areas of the island where open country would be compatible with a terrestrial mode of life.

Cited by

• Body mass estimations and paleobiological inferences on a new species of large Caracara (Aves, Falconidae) from the late Pleistocene of Uruguay
• A new fossil species of small crested caracara (Aves: Falconidae:Caracara) from the Pacific lowlands of western South America
• Paleogenomics illuminates the evolutionary history of the extinct Holocene “horned” crocodile of Madagascar, Voay robustus
• List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species [wikipedia]

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