A heron (Aves: Ardeidae) from the Early Miocene St Bathans fauna of southern New Zealand.
Date
2010
Authors
Scofield, Richard Paul
Worthy, Trevor Henry
Tennyson, Alan J. D.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Record of the Australian Museum, 2010; 62(1):89-104
Statement of Responsibility
R. Paul Scofield, Trevor H. Worthy and Alan J.D. Tennyson
Conference Name
Abstract
We describe a fossil heron, based on seven fossil bones, from the Early Miocene Bannockburn Formation at Saint Bathans, Central Otago in the south of New Zealand. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of 50 morphological characters, we determine the new heron is a member of Ardeidae but, in an analysis where we retrieve three major lineages in Ardeidae: (1) bitterns, (2) egrets and true herons, and (3) night herons, there is no support for a sister group relationship with any of these clades. We discuss aspects of the higher taxonomy of the herons based on our phylogeny.
School/Discipline
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© The Authors, 2010.