Cimolopteryx

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"Cimolopteryx"
Fossil range: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neoaves
Order: Charadriiformes
Genus: "Cimolopteryx"
Species[1]
  • "Cimolopteryx" maxima
    Brodkorb, 1963
  • "Cimolopteryx" minima
    Brodkorb, 1963
  • "Cimolopteryx" petra
    Hope, 2002
  • "Cimolopteryx" rara (type)
    Marsh, 1890
  • "Cimolopteryx" sp.

(but see text)

"Cimolopteryx" is a controversial prehistoric bird genus from the Late Cretaceous. It lived around the Maastrichtian boundary, some 70 million years ago, perhaps a bit earlier in the Campanian[verification needed]. Their remains were found in the Lance Creek Formation of Wyoming (USA) and other places along the Western Interior Seaway shores; conceivably, they might have occurred on all North American coasts.

These birds were sometimes united with various other "transitional shorebirds" in the "Graculavidae" based on an obsolete and fragmentary picture of Neornithes phylogeny and evolution. Despite the paucity of remains, they quite confidently appear to be Charadriiformes of a shorebird ecomorphology judging from direct comparison and cladistic analysis[2]. Indeed, molecular studies as well as the fossil record (see also Vegavis iaai) also support such an assumption.

However, the genus as a taxonomic entity is problematic. While it appears that "C." rara and "C." maxima would indeed constitute a genus[2], they are somewhat non-diagnostic due to the paucity of material. "C." minima seems to stand farther apart, but this is by no means certain. The status of "C." petra and the undescribed "C." sp. from northwestern North America is even less clear. While there remains rather little doubt about their Charadriiformes affiliation by now (at least compared to birds such as the peculiar Laornis edvardsianus), the interrelationships of the taxa presently united in "Cimolopteryx" remain very obscure. In conclusion, the supposed genus is quite likely not monophyletic and little more than a nomen dubium.

The "genus" is sometimes united with similar taxa (like Ceramornis) in the Cimolopterygidae. But this is probably premature; as it may well be that some of these are direct ancestors of birds still alive[3]. Considering this but also accepting the possibility that the Charadriiformes had already diverged into several lineages back then, the birds presently united in "Cimolopteryx" are better considered Charadriiformes incertae sedis for the time being; they might eventually be allied with one of the suborders therein (e.g. Scolopaci or Charadrii) as basal members, without being placed in a family.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Haaramo (2006)
  2. ^ a b Mortimer (2004)
  3. ^ Though this is not very likely given the Chixculub bolide's impact trajectory

[edit] References


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