| Torotix Temporal range: Late Cretaceous |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Subclass: | Neornithes |
| Infraclass: | Neognathae |
| Superorder: | Neoaves |
| Genus: | Torotix Brodkorb,1963 |
| Species: | T. clemensi |
| Binomial name | |
| Torotix clemensi Brodkorb,1963 |
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Torotix is a Late Cretaceous genus of aquatic bird. It lived along the shores of the Western Interior Seaway, but it is not clear whether it was a seabird or a freshwater bird, as it is only known from a humerus. Consequently, the genus is monotypic, with the single species Torotix clemensi.
It appears to be closely related to the ancestor of some modern birds. It was initially suggested to be related to modern flamingos, but later comparative studies found it more similar to Pelecaniformes, Procellariiformes or Charadriiformes (waders/shorebirds).
The former two of these are quite likely paraphyletic and they, or possibly all three, are today generally believed to be closely related. The idea that Torotix might be basal to some lineages of these three, and/or other "higher waterbirds", is by and large compatible with current phylogenetic analyses based on morphological and DNA sequence data.
Indeed, some more astounding findings of the recent years indicate that if Torotix was close to flamingos, it would be likely to have had some features reminiscent of plesiomorphies found in grebes, as these and flamingos seem to be closer relatives than either is to the three other groups.
A cladistic study of wing bones found Torotix not to resemble any of the Waved Albatross (a procellariiform), Northern Gannet (a "pelecaniform" of the suborder Suli), Painted Buttonquail (an ancient charadriiform), Black-necked Stilt (a more advanced charadriiform) and a Phoenicopterus flamingo noticeably more than any other. As this comparison apparently provided information about ecomorphological rather than phylogenetic similarities, it is only clear that assignment of Torotix of any living bird order is certainly premature.[1]
The family Torotigidae has been established to unite this taxon with Parascaniornis and Gallornis. However, the former of these is now considered a junior synonym of Baptornis (Hesperornithes), while the latter may or may not be a very early fowl of the Galloanserae[2]. On the other hand, the slightly younger Novacaesareala hungerfordi which lived on the western Atlantic coasts appears to be - despite also being insufficiently known - the closest relative of Torotix hitherto found and thus it could be warranted to accept the Torotigidae as valid[3]. On the other hand, it may be that this "family" is simply a basal group united by plesiomorphies, and hence it is not used here.