Hypselornis
Hypselornis is a fossil bird from the Pliocene of India. Known from right toe digits and lower leg elements, this bird appears to have been a ratite similar to modern emus and cassowaries, in spite of its Asian distribution. A single species is known thus far, H. sivalensis.
Hypselornis Temporal range: Late Pliocene | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Casuariiformes |
Family: | Casuariidae |
Genus: | †Hypselornis Lydekker, 1929 |
Type species | |
†Hypselornis sivalensis Lydekker, 1929 |
Discovery and naming
The holotype of Hypselornis was found in the Siwalik Hills formation, dating to the Late Pliocene. It was first described in 1879 as Dromaius sivalensis, before a slightly younger revision allocated it to its own genus.[1]
Classification
Originally interpreted as an emu, a slightly younger revision shifted it to its own genus due to its geographical range as well as the presence of a hallux. It is nonetheless considered a close relative and classified within the Casuariidae.[2]
Paleogeographical implications
The presence of a casuariiform ratite in India originally puzzled researchers, who proposed a putative but unsatisfactory vicariant origin from India's Gondwanan past. In more recent years, ratites have been understood as having lost the ability to fly multiple times and likely having had a Laurasian origin, suggesting a more recent aerial dispersal across the various landmasses from northern lithornithid-like ancestors.[3][4]
Palaeobiology
Due to the presence of a hallux, as well as its forest habitat, Hypselornis is assumed to have been a cassowary or moa-like forest dweller.
References
- Lowe, Percy Roycroft 1929. Some remarks on Hypselornis sivalensis Lydekker. Ibis. 71: (4) 571–576. (Journal Article)
- Lowe, Percy Roycroft 1929. Some remarks on Hypselornis sivalensis Lydekker. Ibis. 71: (4) 571–576. (Journal Article)
- Yonezawa, T.; Segawa, T.; Mori, H.; Campos, P. F.; Hongoh, Y.; Endo, H.; Akiyoshi, A.; Kohno, N.; Nishida, S.; Wu, J.; Jin, H.; Adachi, J.; Kishino, H.; Kurokawa, K.; Nogi, Y.; Tanabe, H.; Mukoyama, H.; Yoshida, K.; Rasoamiaramanana, A.; Yamagishi, S.; Hayashi, Y.; Yoshida, A.; Koike, H.; Akishinonomiya, F.; Willerslev, E.; Hasegawa, M. (2016-12-15). "Phylogenomics and Morphology of Extinct Paleognaths Reveal the Origin and Evolution of the Ratites". Current Biology. 27 (1): 68–77. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2016.10.029. PMID 27989673.
- Phillips MJ, Gibb GC, Crimp EA, Penny D (January 2010). "Tinamous and moa flock together: mitochondrial genome sequence analysis reveals independent losses of flight among ratites". Systematic Biology. 59 (1): 90–107. doi:10.1093/sysbio/syp079. PMID 20525622.