First Fossil Tody from Cuba (1 Viewer)

[Fred Ruhe]

Nikita V. Zelenkov and S. F. Gonzalez, 2020

The First Fossil Tody (Aves: Todidae) from Cuba

Paleontological Journal, 2020, Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 414–419
DOI: 10.1134/S0031030120040164

Abstract and free pdf: https://www.researchgate.net/profil...didae-from-Cuba.pdf?origin=publication_detail

Todies (Aves: Todidae)—endemic to the Greater Antilles and one of the most characteristic components of the modern fauna of Cuba—have not yet been represented in the island’s fossil record. This article describes the first fossil find of a representative of this family in Cuba. A coracoid from the Upper Pleistocene of the cave El Abrón (Pinar-del-Río province) in general morphology and size is similar to that of the modern Cuban Tody Todus multicolor, but differs in structural details and thus can represent a distinct species. The distinctiveness of the Late Pleistocene tody from Cuba may also indicate an increased morphological variability of todies, which in most cases is not typical for birds.

Enjoy,

Fred

 

[Fred Ruhe]

Fig. Fossil tody (Aves: Todidae) from the Upper Pleistocene of Cuba in comparison with the modern Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor): (a, c) specimen MNHN, no. 73.5395, complete left coracoid; locality El Abrón Cave (Pinar-del-Río Province), Upper Pleistocene; (b, d) Todus multicolor Gould, specimen PIN, no. 1641-1, modern (Cuba). Designations: con—depression in the caudal part of the processus acrocoracoideus; cs—cotyla scapularis; es—extremitas sternalis; fah—facies articularis humeralis; fas—facies articularis sternalis; ib—impressio bicipitalis; ila—impressio lig. acrocoracohumeralis; lg—labrum glenoidale; li—linea intermuscularis; pa—processus acrocoracoideus; pp—processus procoracoideus. (a, b) dorsal view; (c, d) ventral view.

Fred