Palaeoglaux: Difference between revisions
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'''''Palaeoglaux''''' is a genus of fossil owls from the [[Eocene]] epoch. The two known species are ''P. perrierensis'' from the Upper Eocene of Quercy, France, and ''P. artophoron'' from the Middle Eocene [[Messel shales]], Germany.<ref name="Mourer-Chauviré1987">Mourer-Chauviré, Cécile (1987) "The owls (Aves:strigiformes) of Phosphorites Du Quercy (France) systematics, biostratigraphy, and paleobiogeography" pp.89-136 in "Documents des laboratoires de geologie Lyon" Départment des Sciences de la Terre, Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1. {{ISBN|2-85454-029-8}}</ref> The holotype of ''P. perrierensis'' is a partial left [[coracoid]] in the Collection Université Montpellier, accession number PRR 2585. The four paratypes are the distal part of a left humerus (PRR2591), the proximal part of a left ulna (PRR 2571), the distal part of a left ulna (PRR 2578), and the distal part of a right tarsometatarsus (PRR 2576). The type specimen of ''P. artophoron'' is a fossil slab and counterslab containing most of the postcranial skeleton and some feather impressions. This specimen is in the collection of the Forschunginstitut Senckenberg, accession number SMF-ME 1144 A and B. [[File:Paleoglaux-artophoron-hccmoss.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of Paleoglaux artophoron]] |
'''''Palaeoglaux''''' is a genus of fossil owls from the [[Eocene]] epoch. The two known species are ''P. perrierensis'' from the Upper Eocene of Quercy, France, and ''P. artophoron'' from the Middle Eocene [[Messel shales]], Germany.<ref name="Mourer-Chauviré1987">Mourer-Chauviré, Cécile (1987) "The owls (Aves:strigiformes) of Phosphorites Du Quercy (France) systematics, biostratigraphy, and paleobiogeography" pp.89-136 in "Documents des laboratoires de geologie Lyon" Départment des Sciences de la Terre, Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1. {{ISBN|2-85454-029-8}}</ref> The holotype of ''P. perrierensis'' is a partial left [[coracoid]] in the Collection Université Montpellier, accession number PRR 2585. The four paratypes are the distal part of a left humerus (PRR2591), the proximal part of a left ulna (PRR 2571), the distal part of a left ulna (PRR 2578), and the distal part of a right tarsometatarsus (PRR 2576). The type specimen of ''P. artophoron'' is a fossil slab and counterslab containing most of the postcranial skeleton and some feather impressions. This specimen is in the collection of the Forschunginstitut Senckenberg, accession number SMF-ME 1144 A and B. [[File:Paleoglaux-artophoron-hccmoss.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of Paleoglaux artophoron]] |
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The feathers of ''P. artophoron'' show some unique characteristics. The feathers on the trunk are about {{convert|1|mm|in|abbr=on}} wide and {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. They appear to be membranous and ribbon-like, without barbs. This may be an artifact of preservation, but eight nearby primaries show barbs quite clearly. Peters noted that ribbon-like, elongated plumes are known from some living birds, but all are used in display. He writes that display feathers are unexpected in a [[nocturnality|nocturnal]] owl, and wonders if this lineage of owls was, in fact, [[diurnality|diurnal]].<ref name="Peters1992">Peters, Dieter Stefan (1992) "A new species of owl (Aves:Strigiformes) from the Middle Eocene Messel oil shale" pp. 161-169 in "Papers in Avian paleontology honoring pierce Brodkorp" edited by Kenneth Campbell, Jr. NO. 36 Science Series Natural history Museum of Los Angeles County.</ref> Diurnal owls do, in fact, exist today, in the form of the [[burrowing owl]] and the [[snowy owl]]. |
The feathers of ''P. artophoron'' show some unique characteristics. The feathers on the trunk are about {{convert|1|mm|in|abbr=on}} wide and {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. They appear to be membranous and ribbon-like, without barbs. This may be an artifact of preservation, but eight nearby primaries show barbs quite clearly. Peters noted that ribbon-like, elongated plumes are known from some living birds, but all are used in display. He writes that display feathers are unexpected in a [[nocturnality|nocturnal]] owl, and wonders if this lineage of owls was, in fact, [[diurnality|diurnal]].<ref name="Peters1992">Peters, Dieter Stefan (1992) "A new species of owl (Aves:Strigiformes) from the Middle Eocene Messel oil shale" pp. 161-169 in "Papers in Avian paleontology honoring pierce Brodkorp" edited by Kenneth Campbell, Jr. NO. 36 Science Series Natural history Museum of Los Angeles County.</ref> Diurnal owls do, in fact, exist today, in the form of the [[burrowing owl]], the [[northern hawk-owl]] and the [[snowy owl]]. |
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==References==<!-- Palaeontology37:339; ZoolJLinnSoc128:149 --> |
==References==<!-- Palaeontology37:339; ZoolJLinnSoc128:149 --> |
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Revision as of 16:09, 4 November 2019
| Paleoglaux Temporal range: Middle Eocene
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| Palaeoglaux artophoron | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | †Palaeoglaucidae |
| Genus: | †Palaeoglaux Mourer - Chauviré, 1987 |
| Species | |
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P. perrierensis Mourer - Chauviré, 1987 (type) | |
Palaeoglaux is a genus of fossil owls from the Eocene epoch. The two known species are P. perrierensis from the Upper Eocene of Quercy, France, and P. artophoron from the Middle Eocene Messel shales, Germany.[1] The holotype of P. perrierensis is a partial left coracoid in the Collection Université Montpellier, accession number PRR 2585. The four paratypes are the distal part of a left humerus (PRR2591), the proximal part of a left ulna (PRR 2571), the distal part of a left ulna (PRR 2578), and the distal part of a right tarsometatarsus (PRR 2576). The type specimen of P. artophoron is a fossil slab and counterslab containing most of the postcranial skeleton and some feather impressions. This specimen is in the collection of the Forschunginstitut Senckenberg, accession number SMF-ME 1144 A and B.
The feathers of P. artophoron show some unique characteristics. The feathers on the trunk are about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide and 2 cm (0.79 in) long. They appear to be membranous and ribbon-like, without barbs. This may be an artifact of preservation, but eight nearby primaries show barbs quite clearly. Peters noted that ribbon-like, elongated plumes are known from some living birds, but all are used in display. He writes that display feathers are unexpected in a nocturnal owl, and wonders if this lineage of owls was, in fact, diurnal.[2] Diurnal owls do, in fact, exist today, in the form of the burrowing owl, the northern hawk-owl and the snowy owl.
References
- ^ Mourer-Chauviré, Cécile (1987) "The owls (Aves:strigiformes) of Phosphorites Du Quercy (France) systematics, biostratigraphy, and paleobiogeography" pp.89-136 in "Documents des laboratoires de geologie Lyon" Départment des Sciences de la Terre, Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1. ISBN 2-85454-029-8
- ^ Peters, Dieter Stefan (1992) "A new species of owl (Aves:Strigiformes) from the Middle Eocene Messel oil shale" pp. 161-169 in "Papers in Avian paleontology honoring pierce Brodkorp" edited by Kenneth Campbell, Jr. NO. 36 Science Series Natural history Museum of Los Angeles County.
