albertonykus
Well-known member
Bocheński, Z.M., J. Happ, G. Salwa, and T. Tomek (2025)
The first fossil bird from the Miocene swamps of Gračanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina: a novel and very unique duck
Palaeontologia Electronica 28: 14
doi: 10.26879/1512
The authors describe a nearly complete skeleton of a new genus and species of duck from the Middle Miocene, preserved on a slab. The skull, mandible, sternum and pelvis are also preserved, making this specimen even more unique. This is the first fossil duck with documented gastroliths. The gastroliths appear as a cluster of several dozen polished stones in a place that anatomically corresponds to the approximate location of the gizzard in ducks. This is also the first fossil bird from the Gračanica site, which has long been known for numerous early Middle Miocene fossils, ranging from large mammals and mollusks, and more recently also for fish, amphibians and reptiles, as well as arthropods, insects, sponges, protists, macroflora and plant pollen. The specimen displays a mosaic of primitive and advanced characters that are not exclusive to one tribe of ducks, therefore, apart from excluding Anatini, its systematic affiliation cannot be precisely indicated. However, we have sufficient reason to believe that at least in the ecological sense it was a diving duck.
The first fossil bird from the Miocene swamps of Gračanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina: a novel and very unique duck
Palaeontologia Electronica 28: 14
doi: 10.26879/1512
The authors describe a nearly complete skeleton of a new genus and species of duck from the Middle Miocene, preserved on a slab. The skull, mandible, sternum and pelvis are also preserved, making this specimen even more unique. This is the first fossil duck with documented gastroliths. The gastroliths appear as a cluster of several dozen polished stones in a place that anatomically corresponds to the approximate location of the gizzard in ducks. This is also the first fossil bird from the Gračanica site, which has long been known for numerous early Middle Miocene fossils, ranging from large mammals and mollusks, and more recently also for fish, amphibians and reptiles, as well as arthropods, insects, sponges, protists, macroflora and plant pollen. The specimen displays a mosaic of primitive and advanced characters that are not exclusive to one tribe of ducks, therefore, apart from excluding Anatini, its systematic affiliation cannot be precisely indicated. However, we have sufficient reason to believe that at least in the ecological sense it was a diving duck.
