Miocene hawk converges on Secretarybird |
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| Authors: | ALAN FEDUCCIA MICHAEL R VOORHIES† |
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| Institution: | *Department of Biology, CB# 3280, Coker Hall, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3280, USA;†Division of Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 USA |
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| Abstract: | A falconiform Miocene fossil bird from North America, represented by a nearly complete tarsometatarsus with phalanges in place, is that of a hawk that converged on the living Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius. It is described as a new genus and species, Apatosagittarius terrenus. The palaeoenvironment indicates a Miocene setting similar to the present day habitat of the living Secretarybird, characterized by extensive grasslands and savannas. |
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