Coturnix lignorum sp. nov.; Coturnix alabrevis sp. nov.; Coturnix centensis sp. nov. (1 Viewer)

[Fred Ruhe]

Juan C Rando, Josep A Alcover, Harald Pieper, Storrs L Olson, C Nayra Hernández & L Felipe López-Jurado, 2019

Unforeseen diversity of quails (Galliformes: Phasianidae: Coturnix) in oceanic islands provided by the fossil record of Macaronesia

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. in press. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz107

Abstract: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean...innean/zlz107/5601873?redirectedFrom=fulltext

The original bird fauna of most oceanic islands has been affected by recent extinction processes associated with human arrival and its subsequent impacts. In the volcanic Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands and Cape Verde), in the North Atlantic, the Late Quaternary fossil record indicates that there was formerly a higher avian diversity, including a high number of now extinct endemic species. This assemblage of extinct birds includes endemic insular quails (Galliformes: Phasianidae). In this study, we describe three newly discovered extinct species of quails, two of which inhabited the archipelago of Madeira (Coturnix lignorum sp. nov. from Madeira Island and Coturnix alabrevis sp. nov. from Porto Santo Island) and one from Cape Verde (Coturnix centensis sp. nov.). The fossil record also indicates the presence of additional species of extinct endemic quails on other Macaronesian islands. These birds plus the extinct Canary Island quail (Coturnix gomerae) indicate a high former endemic diversity of this genus in Macaronesia, a feature unique among oceanic archipelagos. Anatomical traits show that the new taxa were flightless ground dwellers, making them vulnerable to human interference, with their extinction being linked to human arrival and subsequent habitat alterations and the introduction of invasive species.

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Fred

 

[Fred Ruhe]

SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY part 1

Galliformes Temminck, 1820
Phasianidae Horsfield, 1821
Coturnix Garsault, 1764

Coturnix lignorum Rando, Alcover, Pieper, Olson, Hernández & López-Jurado sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6DBF0A7A-DED2-4568-A4E1-98EF5E11B47E
Holotype: MMF 47266, complete right tibiotarsus (Figs 5, 6) collected by H. Pieper and O. Runze in 1994
Type locality: Ponta de São Lourenço (Prainha II site), Madeira Island, Madeira, Portugal.
Distribution: Madeira Island.
Age: Holocene; 1021–806 cal BCE is the age of a sample consisting of an associated femur, tibiotarsus and a fragment of tarsometatarsus of the new species (Lab-Code KIA- 47430: 2755 ± 55 BP) from Ribeira Groh (Ponta de São Lourenço).
Etymology: The specific name lignorum is derived from from the Latin genitive plural of lignum, wood, a direct translation of the Portuguese madeira.
Paratypes: Complete or near-complete bones collected, separately or jointly, by H. Pieper, O. Runze and Klaus Groh. Prainha II site: MMF 47267, L tbt; MMF 47271, R tbt; MMF 47272, R tbt; MMF 47274, R tbt; MMF 47282, R fem; MMF 47286, L tmt; MMF 47290, R tmt; MMF 47294, R tmt; MMF 47300, L hum; MMF 47309, R hum; MMF 47311, L uln; MMF 47314 R uln; MMF 47316, L cmc; MMF 47321, L cor; MMF 47322, L or; MMF 47327, syn; MMF 47328, frag ste; MMF 47329, pmx; MMF 47330, L sca; IMEDEA 106875, R fem; IMEDEA 106876, R tmt. Prainha I site: MMF 47313, R uln. Main Sand Place site: MMF 47268, R tbt; MMF 7270, L tbt; MMF 47276, R fem; MMF 47277, R fem; MMF 47278, L fem; MMF 47283, L fem; MMF 47284, L fem; MMF
47285, L tmt; MMF 47287 L tmt; MMF 47288, L tmt; MMF 47291, R tmt; MMF 47292, R tmt; MMF 47293, R tmt; MMF 47295, R tmt; MMF 47297, R tmt; MMF 47298, L hum; MMF 47299, L hum; MMF 47301, L hum; MMF 47302, L hum; MMF 47303, L hum; MMF 47305, R hum; MMF 47306, R hum; MMF 47307, R hum; MMF 47308, R hum; MMF 47312, L uln; MMF 47315, L cmc; MMF 47317, R cmc; MMF 47318, L cor; MMF 47319, L cor; MMF 47320, L cor; MMF 47323, L cor; MMF 47324, L cor; MMF 47325, R cor; MMF 47326, R cor. Ribeira
Groh site: MMF 47269, L tbt; MMF 47273, R tbt; MMF 47275, R fem; MMF 47279, R fem; MMF 47280, R fem;
MMF 47281, L fem; MMF 47289, R tmt; MMF 47296, R tmt; MMF 47304, R hum; MMF 47310, R hum; IMEDEA
106877, R hum; IMEDEA 106878, L cor.

Coturnix alabrevis Rando, Alcover, Pieper, Olson, Hernández & López-Jurado sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6FE8D8BE-6112-4ACCA6E0-A55E9E9BD8A6
Holotype: MMF 47331, complete left tibiotarsus collected by H. Pieper, O. Runze and K. Groh in May 1992.
Type locality: Fonte da Areia site, Porto Santo Island, Madeira, Portugal.
Distribution: Porto Santo Island.
Age: Late Quaternary
Etymology: From Latin ala, wing, and brevis, short, in reference to the small size of the forelimb (wing) bones.
Paratypes: Complete or near-complete bones collected, separately or jointly, by H. Pieper, O. Runze and K. Groh. Porto dos Frades site: MMF 47332, L tbt; MMF 47333, L tbt; MMF 47334, L tbt; MMF 47335, L tbt; MMF 47336, R tbt; MMF 47337, R tbt; MMF 47339, R tbt; MMF 47340, R tbt; MMF 47341, R tbt; MMF 47342, R tbt; MMF 47343, L fem; MMF 47344, L fem; MMF 47345, L fem; MMF 47346, L fem; MMF 47347, R fem; MMF 47349, R fem; MMF 47350, R fem; MMF 47351, R fem; MMF 47352, R fem; MMF 47353, R fem; MMF 47354, R fem; MMF 47355, L tmt; MMF 47357, L tmt; MMF 47358, L tmt; MMF 47359, L tmt; MMF 47360, L tmt; MMF 47361, L tmt; MMF 47362, L tmt; MMF 47363, L tmt; MMF 47364, R tmt; MMF 47365, R tmt; MMF 47366, R tmt; MMF 47367, R tmt; MMF 47368, R tmt; MMF 47369, R tmt; MMF 47370, R tmt; MMF 47371, R tmt; MMF 47372, R tmt; MMF 47373, R tmt; MMF 47374, L hum; MMF 47375, L hum; MMF 47376, L hum; MMF 47377, L hum; MMF 47378, L hum; MMF 47379, L hum; MMF 47380, L hum; MMF 47381, L hum; MMF 47383, R hum; MMF 47384, R hum; MMF 47385, R hum; MMF 47386, R hum; MMF 47387, R hum; MMF 47388, L uln; MMF 47389, L uln; MMF 47390, L uln; MMF 47391, L uln; MMF 47392, L uln; MMF 47393, R uln; MMF 47394, R uln; MMF 47395, R uln; MMF 47396, R uln; MMF 47397, R uln; MMF 47398, L cmc; MMF 47399, L cmc; MMF 47400, L cmc; MMF 47401, R cmc; MMF 47403, R cmc; MMF 47404, R cmc; MMF 47405, R cmc; MMF 47406, R cmc; MMF 47407, L cor; MMF 47409, L cor; MMF 47410, R cor; MMF 47411, R cor; MMF 47413, pmx; MMF 47414, pmx; MMF 47415, pmx; IMEDEA 106879, R fem; IMEDEA 106880, L tmt; IMEDEA 106881, L hum. Fonte da Areia site: MMF 47338, R tbt; MMF 47348, R fem; MMF 47356, L tmt; MMF 47382, R hum; MMF 47402, R cmc; MMF 47408, L cor; MMF 47412, R cor.

 

[Fred Ruhe]

SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY part 2

Coturnix centensis Rando, Alcover, Pieper, Olson, Hernández & López-Jurado sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C6911A9F-9FD 2-4B60-9202-1C191B742BBA
Holotype: ULPGC-A21, complete left tibiotarsus collected by L. F. López-Jurado in November 1997
Type locality: Monte Verde, São Vicente Island, Cape Verde.
Distribution: São Vicente Island.
Age: Holocene; 1015–1155 cal CE is the age of a sample consisting of the assemblage of two fragments of femur, a tibiotarsus and a fragment of tarsometatarsus of this new species (Lab-Code RICH-25956: 974 ± 28 BP) from Monte Verde.
Etymology: In the Portuguese-based creole language spoken in Cape Verde, the island of São Vicente is called ‘Son Cent'. We based our epithet on this, adding the Latin locative suffix -ensis.
Paratypes: Collected by L. F. López-Jurado. ULPGC-A1, R hum; ULPGC-A2, R hum; ULPGC-A3, R hum; ULPGC-A4, R hum; ULPGC-A5, R hum; ULPGC-A6, R hum; ULPGC-A7, L hum; ULPGC-A8, L hum; ULPGC-A9, R uln; ULPGC-A10, R uln; ULPGC-A11, L uln; ULPGC-A12, L uln; ULPGC-A13, R cmc; ULPGC-A14, L cmc; ULPGC-A15, L cmc; ULPGC-A16, L fem; ULPGC-A17, L fem; ULPGC-A18, R fem; ULPGC-A19, R fem; ULPGC-A20, R fem; ULPGC-A22, L tbt; ULPGC-A23, L tbt; ULPGC-A24, R tbt; ULPGC-A25, L tmt; ULPGC-A26, L tmt;ULPGC-A27, R tmt; ULPGC-A28, R tmt; ULPGC-A29, R tmt; ULPGC-A30, R tmt; ULPGC-A31, R tmt; ULPGC-A32, R tmt.
All the material for C. centensis is currently stored in the collection of the Department of Biology of the ULPGC. In the event that a scientific collection with guaranteed security is established in Cape Verde, the holotype (ULPGC-A21) and different paratypes (ULPGC-A1–A4; A9–A10; A13; A19, A20; A21, A22; A29–A32) will be transferred to that collection.

Other Macaronesian quails

Coturnix sp. A
Owing to the scarcity of material of this taxon, we refer to it as an unnamed species of Coturnix.
Distribution: Bugio Islet, Desertas Islands, Madeira archipelago, Portugal.
Age: Late Quaternary
Material: All material was collected by Francis Zino. MMF 47416, L cor; MMF 47417 R hum; MMF 47418 R fem; MMF 47419, R tmt; MMF 47420, L fem; MMF 47421, L tbt dis frag; MMF 47422, R tmt dis frag; MMF 47423, L cmc; MMF 47424, L cor dis frag; MMF 47425, L tbt; MMF 47426, L tbt dis frag; MMF 47427, L cor dis frag; MMF 47428, R fem; MMF 47429, L fem prox frag; MMF 47430, R fem dis frag; MMF 47431, R tbt; MMF 47432, R tbt prox frag; MMF 47433, L tbt prox frag; MMF 47434, R tmt frag; MMF 47435, R hum frag; MMF 47436, L hum prox frag; MMF 47437, R cor dis frag; MMF 47438, R sca prox frag; MMF 47439, T tbt prox frag; MMF 47440, L tbt prox frag.

Coturnix sp. B
This material probably represents a new endemic extinct quail from Santa Maria, Azores, although the material is insufficient to confirm, define and name, and we refer to it with an open terminology as an unnamed species of Coturnix.
Distribution: Santa Maria Island, Azores archipelago, Portugal.
Age: Late Quaternary.
Materials: Collected by H. Pieper. MCMa 2320.018, R fem; MCMa 2321.018, L tbt dis frag; MCMa 2322.018, L tbt dis frag.

 

[Fred Ruhe]

SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY part 3

Coturnix sp. C
The Graciosa material consists of 31 bones (complete and fragmented), but owing to the scarcity and poor condition of the material of this quail, we refer to it as Coturnix sp.
Distribution: Graciosa Island, Azores archipelago, Portugal.
Age: Late Quaternary
Materials: Collected by E. Torres, J. C. Illera, H. Pieper, J. C. Rando and J. A. Alcover at Furna do Calcinhas (Caldeira Volcano). MCMa 2323.018, L tmt; MCMa 2324.018, R tmt dis; MCMa 2325.018, R hum prox; MCMa 2326.018, R fem dis; MCMa 2327.018, R hum dis; MCMa 2328.018, L hum dis; MCMa 2329.018, L hum dis; MCMa 2330.018, L hum prox; MCMa 2331.018, R cor; MCMa 2332.018, R cor frag; MCMa 2333.018, R cor frag; MCMa 2334.018, L cor frag; MCMa 2335.018, R cor frag; MCMa 2336.018, L tbt frag; MCMa 2337.018, L tbt prox; MCMa 2338.018, R tbt frag; MCMa 2339.018, L tbt frag; MCMa 2340.018, L hum; MCMa 2341.018, L hum prox frag; MCMa 2342.018, L uln; MCMa 2343.018, L uln; MCMa 2344.018, R uln; MCMa 2345.018, R uln; MCMa 2346.018, L cor; MCMa 2347.018, L cor; MCMa 2348.018, L cor; MCMa 2349.018, MCMa 2350.018, L cor; MCMa 2351.018, L fem; MCMa 2352.018, R tmt; MCMa 2353.018, R tmt; MCMa 2354.018, pmx.

Coturnix coturnix
Age: Holocene–Recent.
Material: Collected by H. Pieper, O. Runze and K. Groh Main. Sand Place Site (Ponta de São Lourenço, Madeira Island): MMF 47441, R uln; MMF 47442, L uln. Ribeira Groh Site (Ponta de São Lourenço, Madeira Island): MMF 47443, L tmt. Fonte da Areia Site (Porto Santo Island): MMF 47444 L cmc; MMF 47445, L hum prox frag; MMF 47446 R hum.

Fred