The Giant Bird Gargantuavis philoinos (1 Viewer)

Eric BUFFETAUT, Delphine ANGST, Patrick MECHIN & Annie MECHIN-SALESSY, in press

New remains of the giant bird Gargantuavis philoinos from the Late Cretaceous of Provence (south-eastern France)

Paleo Vertebrata Articles in press

Abstract:

Two incomplete pelves of the giant bird Gargantuavis philoinos are described from Late Cretaceous deposits at Fox-Amphoux (Var, south-eastern France). They consist of synsacra with attached parts of the ilia. One of them has undergone considerable dorsoventral compression, which makes it very similar in appearance to the holotype pelvis of Gargantuavis philoinos from Campagne-sur-Aude (Aude, southern France). The second specimen has suffered some lateral distortion but is uncrushed dorsoventrally. Because of this, its avian characters (including an arched synsacrum and widespread pneumatisation) are especially clear. These new specimens confirm the avian nature of Gargantuavis and reveal new details about its pelvic anatomy, but provide little new evidence about its systematic position within Aves. The geographical distribution and general rarity of Gargantuavis are discussed.

Free pdf: http://palaeovertebrata.com/

Have fun,

Fred

Eric Buffetaut & Delphine Angst, 2016 in press

Pelvic elements of the giant bird Gargantuavis from the Upper Cretaceous of Cruzy (southern France), with remarks on pneumatisation

Cretaceous Research, In Press

Abstract: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667116301161

A synsacrum fragment and an incomplete ilium of the giant bird Gargantuavis philoinos are described from the upper Campanian/lower Maastrichtian Montplo-Nord locality at Cruzy (Hérault, southern France). The ilium provides new information about the pelvic morphology of Gargantuavis. Both the synsacrum and ilium are extensively pneumatised. This extensive pneumatisation may be a plesiomorphic feature, but may also have had a weight-reduction function in a large flightless bird.

Enhoy,

Fred

On the 24th of June 2016 Fred Ruhe wrote:

"Eric Buffetaut & Delphine Angst, 2016 in press

Pelvic elements of the giant bird Gargantuavis from the Upper Cretaceous of Cruzy (southern France), with remarks on pneumatisation

Cretaceous Research, In Press

Abstract: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...95667116301161

A synsacrum fragment and an incomplete ilium of the giant bird Gargantuavis philoinos are described from the upper Campanian/lower Maastrichtian Montplo-Nord locality at Cruzy (Hérault, southern France). The ilium provides new information about the pelvic morphology of Gargantuavis. Both the synsacrum and ilium are extensively pneumatised. This extensive pneumatisation may be a plesiomorphic feature, but may also have had a weight-reduction function in a large flightless bird."

Free pdf: https://www.researchgate.net/publica...pneumatisation

Enjoy,

Fred

Not everybody is familiar with Gargantuavis philoinos, that is why O will give a short description of it.

It was described by Eric Buffetaut & Jean Le Loeuff, 1998. They described the new species in Ornithothoraces, the clade that includes all enantiornithines ("opposite birds") and the euornithes ("true birds"), which includes modern birds and their closest ancestors.
Ihe holotype was a synsacrum with parts of the pelvis. Musée des Dinosaures, Espéraza, MDE-C3-525; a femur was referred. The fossils were found in the Upper Cretaceous of southern France, Provence, Campagne-sur-Aude, the femur came the Cretaceous from the Combebelle site (département Hérault). Both localities are in the Languedoc region of southern France.
Etymology: generic name from Gargantua, the giant of French folklore made famous by François Rabelais, and avis, Latin for bird. Specific name from the Greek philoinos, ‘one who likes wine’, because the sites which have yielded remains of this bird are in the midst of vineyards.

The species was about the size of a small Ostrich and the broad and heavily built pelvis is interpreted as that
of a large, probably not fast-running, flightless bird.

Literature:
Delphine Angst, Eric Buffetaut, J. Carmelo Corral & Xabier Pereda Suberbiota, 2017: First Record of the Late Cretaceous Giant Bird Gargantuavis philoinos from the Iberian Peninsula: Annales de Paléontologie 16 februari 2017 on line first.

Eric Buffetaut & Delphine Angst, 2013: New Evidence of a Giant Bird from the Late Cretaceous of France: Geological Magazine on line first 150: 173-176

Eric Buffetaut & Jean Le Loeuff, 1998: A New Giant Ground Bird from the Upper Cretaceous of Southern France: Journal of the Geological Society 155: 1-4

You can Always ask me for the pdf's

Enjoy,

Fred