Complete mitochondrial genome of the Baikal teal Anas formosa (Aves, Anseriformes, Anatidae)

The Baikal teal Anas formosa (Aves, Anseriformes, Anatidae) is classified as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List. Here, whole mitochondrial genome of A. formosa was amplified and sequenced. The total length of the Baikal teal mitochondrial genome is 16,594?bp, which consists of 13 protein-coding, 2 rRNA, 22 tRNA genes and 1 control region. The characteristics of the mitochondrial genomes were analyzed and discussed in detail.     

Neogene geese and ducks (Aves: Anatidae) from localities of the Great Lakes Depression, western Mongolia

New material of ducks and geese from Late Miocene-Early Pliocene localities of the Great Lakes Depression in western Mongolia is described and the previously described material is revised. This study confirms the presence of four goose species, four dabbling ducks, and three diving ducks. A large goose previously described as Heterochen vicinus is assigned to a separate genus, Heteroanser. Bonibernicla ponderosa is transferred to Anserinae, and North American Branta woolfendeni is regarded as a junior synonym of Bonibernicla ponderosa. The validity of two goose species, Anser devjatkini and A. liskunae, is confirmed and both are assigned here to the subgenus Chen. It is also shown that the holotype of Anas molesta actually belongs to a diving duck of the genus Aythya. The presence of Anas soporata in the Hyargas Nuur Formation is not confirmed.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Bewick's swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii (Aves, Anseriformes, Anatidae)

The mitochondrial genome of Bewick's swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii was completely sequenced and then the resultant data were compared with those of the whistling swan Cygnus columbianus columbianus. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of C. c. bewickii was 16,727?bp in length and its gene arrangement pattern, gene content, and genome organization were identical to those of Cygnus species. The similarities of nucleotide and amino acid sequences between the two swans were 99.1% and 99.6%, respectively. Out of the 13 protein-coding genes and 2 rRNA genes, COIII showed the lowest nucleotide sequence similarity with 98.0%. On the other hand, in amino acid sequence similarities, both COII and ATP6 showed the lowest with 98.7% in common. The control region has the 97.8% nucleotide sequence similarity.     

Dabbling ducks (Aves: Anatidae) from the Middle Miocene of Mongolia

A new genus and two new species of ducks (Aves: Anatidae) from the Middle Miocene Sharga locality are described. Mioquerquedula minutissima gen. et sp. nov. is a very small duck. Anas velox Milne-Edwards, 1868 from the Middle Miocene of France is transferred to the genus Mioquerquedula. Aix praeclara sp. nov. described here is the oldest record of the modern genus Aix. A revision of the previously described small duck Anas soporata Kurochkin, 1976 shows that only the specimens from the Sharga locality should be referred to this species. The status of other small ducks from the Neogene of Europe and North America is discussed. The diversity of herbivorous and diving ducks in the Sharga locality indicates that Miocene Shargyn Govi Lake was rich in food resources.     

Phylogenetic relationships within the Laridae (Charadriiformes: Aves) inferred from mitochondrial markers

Gulls (Aves: Laridae) constitute a recent and cosmopolite family of well-studied seabirds for which a robust phylogeny is needed to perform comparative and biogeographical analyses. The present study, the first molecular phylogeny of all Larids species (N=53), is based on a combined segment of mtDNA (partial cytochrome b and control region). We discuss our phylogenetic tree in the light of previous suggestions based on morphological, behavioral, and plumage characters. Although the phylogeny is not fully resolved, it highlights several robust species groups and confirms or identifies for the first time some sister relationships that had never been suggested before. The Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii) for instance, is identified as the sister species of the Grey Gull (Larus modestus) and the Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) forms a monophyletic group with the Little Gull (Larus minutus). Our results clearly demonstrate that the genus Larus as currently defined is not monophyletic, since current taxonomy of gulls is based on the use of convergent phenotypic characters. We propose a new systematic arrangement that better reflects their evolutionary history.     

Systematic relationships of the palaeogene family Presbyornithidae (Aves: Anseriformes)

The early Tertiary (Paleocene and Eocene) family Presbyornithidae is one of the most completely known group of fossil birds. Essentially all parts of the skeleton are represented in the fossil record, allowing a thorough analysis of the phylogenetic position of the family. Forty-two families of nonpasserine birds representing the orders Ciconiiformes, Anseriformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes and Charadriiformes, were included in a cladistic analysis of 71 skeletal characters. The previously suggested anseriform affinity of the Presbyornithidae was confirmed. Furthermore, the family proved to be closer to the Anatidae than to the Anhimidae or Anseranatidae. The many postcranial similarities with certain charadriiform birds as the Burhinidae, obviously are plesiomorphies. By this observation, a better undestanding of character evolution in nonpasserine skeletal morphology is gained. The often suggested close relationship of anseriform and galliform birds is not confirmed by osteology. Instead, the Anseriformes and the Phoenicopteridae form a monophyletic clade that is the sister to the remaining ciconiiform birds. This result renders the Ciconiiformes sensu Wetmore (1960) polyphyletic.     

Fossil crocodylid remains from Scontrone (Tortonian,Southern Italy) and the late Neogene Mediterranean biogeography of crocodylians

New fossil remains from the Tortonian of Scontrone (Abruzzo, Southern Italy) provide further information on crocodylids with a generalized rostral morphology that inhabited the Mediterranean area during the late Miocene. Particularly informative is the nearly complete right dentary SCT 276. Thanks to the fact that the third and fourth alveoli are clearly separated by a bony septum and are markedly different in size, the fourth being much larger than the third, it is possible to exclude that SCT 276 belonged to the alligatoroid Diplocynodon and to tentatively refer it to cf. Crocodylus sp. This genus has been previously identified on a phylogenetic basis in the same Apulo-Abruzzi palaeobioprovince (Gargano Terre Rosse, Messinian-Zanclean, Crocodylus sp.), and it is likely present also in the Tusco-Sardinian palaeobioprovince (Monte Bamboli, Tortonian, cf. Crocodylus sp.). SCT 276 currently represents the oldest possible evidence of the presence of Crocodylus; it proves that this taxon could have already reached Europe during the Tortonian, well before the Messinian Salinity Crisis that is traditionally considered as the event that caused several trans-Mediterranean dispersals. Furthermore, it is tempting to associate the absence of alligatoroids and the presence of crocodylids in these palaeobioprovinces (actually systems of islands) to the different behavioural, morphological and physiological traits of extant alligatorids and crocodylids, which render rather salt-intolerant the former and salt-tolerant the latter.     

Egg size, composition and offspring quality in some Alcidae (Aves: Charadriiformes)

The composition of fresh and fully developed (pipping) eggs of four alcids, Razorbill, Common guillemot, Brünnich's guillemot and Atlantic puffin was examined. There were no differences in egg composition between the semi-precocial Atlantic puffin and the three species with "intermediate" developmental patterns. The absolute amount of yolk increased with egg size in fresh eggs, and the relative amount remained constant with egg size for Common guillemot and Razorbill, but decreased in the Atlantic puffin. In fully developed eggs chick weight and egg weight were closely correlated, and this was due mainly to larger eggs producing chicks with larger yolk reserves. Under some conditions chicks from larger eggs do better than those from smaller eggs. Several factors influence egg size; a comparison of first and replacement eggs laid by the same females showed that a maternal effect accounted for 60–90% of the variance in egg-size and that laying date accounted for most of the remaining variance.     

Parhadjelia cairinae n. sp. (Nematoda: Habronematoidea: Habronematidae) in the Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves: Anseriformes: Anatidae), from the area de conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica

A new species of Parahadjelia occurs in the muscovy duck, Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), from the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The new species differs from Parhadjelia neglecta Lent and Freitas, 1939, in the body size, in the spicules shape and ratio of spicules, and in having 2 pairs of sessile papillae near the tail tip of the male. The characters exhibited by P. neglecta and the new species validate its generic status distinct from Hadjelia.     

Histomorphological changes in the oviduct of the mallard (Aves: Anatidae)

Studies on histomorphometrical changes in different segments (infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, shell gland and vagina) of oviduct of mallard, Anas platyrhynchos during active and quiescent phases of the reproductive cycle have been made. The absolute and per cent length and width of each segment showed a marked change. The magnum showed an increase of 280 per cent. Of all the histological parameters studied the number and height of mucosal folds and mucosal epithelium showed more marked increase in all segments of oviduct. The size of tubular glands and frequency of ciliated and secretory cells were studied in relation to oviductal activity.     

A new species of Neohaematotrephus (Digenea: Echinostomiformes: Cyclocoelidae) in the spotted-sandpiper Actitis macularia (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae) from Venezuela

Fischthal and Nasir (1974) reported Neohaematotrephus brasilianum (as Cyclocoelum brasilianum) in the spotted-sandpiper Actitis macularia from Venezuela. Three voucher specimens from that report, deposited in the United States National Parasite Collection, however, differ from N. brasilianum by having the cirrus sac on the sinistral side of the body, which resembles N. facioi, N. arayae, and N. gendrei. The new species is similar to N. brasilianum by having vitelline follicles extending well anterior to the intestinal bifurcation and by having a short and laterally displaced cirrus sac whose posterior end does not reach the intestinal bifurcation, whereas all other members of Neohaematotrephus have a cirrus sac that is medially oriented. Neohaematotrephus gendrei and N. facioi have cirrus sacs that extend to the level of the intestinal bifurcation, and N. arayae has a cirrus sac that extends well posterior to the posterior margin of the ceca. By having the ovary on the sinistral side of the body, the new species is similar to N. brasilianum, N. gendrei, and N. arayae but differs from N. facioi, in which the ovary is dextral.     

On the Diversity and Morphology of Anserini (Aves: Anatidae) from the Late Miocene of Western Mongolia

Paleontological Journal - New previously unstudied geese bones (two coracoids and tarsometatarsus) are described from the late Miocene locality Hyargas Nuur 2 in Western Mongolia. A...     

Multilocus perspectives on the monophyly and phylogeny of the order Charadriiformes (Aves)

Background  

The phylogeny of shorebirds (Aves: Charadriiformes) and their putative sister groups was reconstructed using approximately 5 kilobases of data from three nuclear loci and two mitochondrial genes, and compared to that based on two other nuclear loci.     

A fossil Dendrocygninae (Aves,Anatidae) from the Early Pliocene of the Argentine Pampas and its paleobiogeographical implications

In the present paper, the distal end of a humerus referable to a Dendrocygninae anseriform bird is reported. The specimen was collected at the Monte Hermoso Formation (early Pliocene) of the Farola Monte Hermoso locality (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). This record constitutes one of the oldest for the group in South America and elsewhere. The overview of the anseriform record in South America indicates a similar pattern to that of other localities across the world. Paleogene localities are dominated by non-Anatinae taxa, whereas more recent faunas are dominated by anatines. Following this pattern, in South America the Anatinae appears in the fossil record as recently as in the Pleistocene, probably arriving from North America during the Great American Biotic Interchange. Pleistocene and Recent anseriform avifaunas are dominated by Anatinae taxa, and this dominance is probably due to some “key characters” regarding reproductive biology. In fact, the anatines exhibit a high reproductive success probably due to the capability of having two molts per year, and that the parental care of the downy young is only conducted by the female. The combination of characters may have allowed anatines to dominate most aquatic environments, surpassing in diversity more plesiomorphic taxa.     

Phylogenetic analysis of some Neogene phasianid genera (Aves: Phasianidae)

Phylogenetic analysis based on osteological characters of some Neogene and Recent phasianids is performed. Phylogenetic tree shows close relationships of Plioperdix with Ammoperdix and Tologuica with Excalfactoria. Chauvireria is at the base of the clade (Alectoris + (Coturnix + (Excalfactoria + Tologuica))). Palaeoperdix is relatively close to the lineage of large pheasants.     

New discoveries on the giant hedgehog Deinogalerix from the Miocene of Gargano (Apulia,Italy)

During the Miocene, the Abruzzo/Apulia region (Italy), isolated from the continent, was the theatre of the evolution of a vertebrate ecosystem in insular context. During the Late Miocene, the protagonists of this ecosystem called “Mikrotia fauna” show a high endemic speciation level, presenting spectacular giant and dwarf species of mammals and birds. Deinogalerix is one of the most uncommon forms of this peculiar fauna. It is the largest Galericinae that ever lived. From Gargano (Apulia, Italy) deposits (also called “Terre Rosse”), Deinogalerix has been, since its discovery in the 1970s’, the subject of two publications in which various morphotypes were described. Its presence is also attested at Scontrone (Abruzzo, Italy). In 2005, the new Miocene fissure “Mikrotia 013” (M013) was found in the Gargano area at Cava Dell’Erba by a team of the Università degli studi di Torino. The study of the micromammals, and in particular the presence of an archaic form of Mikrotia, attests that M013 is the oldest fissure known to date. All the Deinogalerix remains come from the smallest morphotype ever found. The morphological features (other than size) allow us to describe the new species Deinogalerix masinii. It presents a large variability of dental and mandibular features expressed in mosaic patterns within the material: the robustness of the upper and lower P3 and P4, and the characteristic trigonid of m1 of the genus; the archaic morphology of the maxilla and the mandible; the abrading pattern of the teeth are unique for Deinogalerix. These new remains allow us to update the knowledge of Deinogalerix. The suit of characters testified that D. masinii nov. sp. is an archaic form on the evolutionary trend toward the most derived representatives of the genus. The affinities of Deinogalerix with the Parasorex group are confirmed, but the time of immigration in Gargano remains debated.     

Haemoproteus gabaldoni n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Haemoproteidae) from the Muscovy duck Cairina moschata (Aves: Anatidae)

Haemoproteus gabaldoni n. sp. is described from the Muscovy duck Cairina moschata from Caracas, Venezuela and is compared to H. greineri and H. nettionis which have been described previously from the Anatidae. The highly amoeboid outline, volutin granules and small number of pigment granules of H. gabaldoni serve to readily separate this species from the other two.     

The last terror birds (Aves,Phorusrhacidae): new evidence from the late Pleistocene of Uruguay

We report new fossil evidence of terror bird survival until the end of the Pleistocene in Uruguay. The new specimens comprise the distal portion of right tarsometatarsus and a left humerus; the latter is assigned to the genus Psilopterus. The sedimentary context of the remains yields a characteristic Pleistocene mammalian association along with numerical age dating giving an undoubted late Pleistocene age (OSL 96,040 ± 6300 years). We also revise and discuss the systematic placement of late Pleistocene phorusrhacid material previously published. The trophic role of terror birds and other South American carnivorous birds in late Pleistocene ecosystems should be revised based on the increasing findings of avian fossil materials.