A new cracticid (Passeriformes : Cracticidae) from the Early Miocene of Australia
Jacqueline M. T. Nguyen A D , Trevor H. Worthy B , Walter E. Boles C , Suzanne J. Hand A and Michael Archer A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
B School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
C Research and Collections Branch, Ornithology Section, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: jacqueline.nguyen@unsw.edu.au
Emu 113(4) 374-382 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU13017
Submitted: 11 March 2013 Accepted: 5 June 2013 Published: 27 November 2013
Abstract
The Cracticidae (Passeriformes) is an endemic Australo-Papuan family that, for the purposes of this paper, comprises the butcherbirds and Australian Magpie (Cracticus), currawongs (Strepera) and peltops (Peltops). Here we describe a new genus and species of cracticid from an Early Miocene deposit in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, north-western Queensland, Australia. Kurrartapu johnnguyeni, gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from a proximal tarsometatarsus that is similar in size to that of the extant Black Butcherbird (C. quoyi). This new species shares morphological features with the Strepera–Cracticus clade to the exclusion of Peltops, which suggests that it is a representative of the crown-group Cracticidae. Kurrartapu johnnguyeni represents the first Tertiary record of the Cracticidae in Australia, and is in concordance with molecular estimates for the timing of the cracticid radiation. We also describe morphological differences of the tarsometatarsus between cracticids and woodswallows (Artamus), which have at times been considered confamilial. We add this new cracticid to the expanding Tertiary fossil record of passerines in Australia, which plays a significant role in our understanding of early passerine evolution.
Additional keywords: Artamus, Cracticus, fossil bird, passerine, Riversleigh, songbird, Strepera, tarsometatarsus.
References
Ahlquist, J. E., Sheldon, F. H., and Sibley, C. G. (1984). The relationships of the Bornean Bristlehead (Pityriasis gymnocephala) and the Black-collared Thrush (Chlamydochaera jefferyi). Journal of Ornitholology 125, 129–140.| The relationships of the Bornean Bristlehead (Pityriasis gymnocephala) and the Black-collared Thrush (Chlamydochaera jefferyi).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Amadon, D. (1951). Taxonomic notes on the Australian butcher-birds (family Cracticidae). American Museum Novitates 1504, 1–33.
Archer, M., Godthelp, H., Hand, S. J., and Megirian, D. (1989). Fossil mammals of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland: preliminary overview of biostratigraphy, correlation and environmental change. Australian Zoologist 25, 29–65.
Archer, M., Hand, S. J., Godthelp, H., and Creaser, P. (1997). Correlation of the Cainozoic sediments of the Riversleigh World Heritage fossil property, Queensland, Australia. In ‘Actes du Congrès BiochroM’97, Mémoires et Travaux de l’Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes 21’. (Eds J.-P. Aguilar, S. Legendre and J. Michaux.) pp. 131–152. (Institut de Montpellier: Montpellier, France.)
Archer, M., Arena, D. A., Bassarova, M., Beck, R. M. D., Black, K., Boles, W. E., Brewer, P., Cooke, B. N., Crosby, K., Gillespie, A., Godthelp, H., Hand, S. J., Kear, B. P., Louys, J., Morrell, A., Muirhead, J., Roberts, K. K., Scanlon, J. D., Travouillon, K. J., and Wroe, S. (2006). Current status of species-level representation in faunas from selected fossil localities in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland. Alcheringa Special Issue 1, 1–17.
Baird, R. F. (1986). The avian portions of the Quaternary cave deposits of Southern Australia and their biogeographical and palaeoenvironmental interpretations. Ph.D. Thesis, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne.
Baird, R. F. (1991). Avian fossils from the Quaternary of Australia. In ‘Vertebrate Palaeontology of Australasia’. (Eds P. Vickers-Rich, J. M. Monaghan, R. F. Baird and T. H. Rich.) pp. 809–870. (Pioneer Design Studio and Monash University Publications Committee: Melbourne.)
Baird, R. F. (1992). Fossil avian assemblage of pitfall origin from Holocene sediments in Amphitheatre Cave (G–2), south-western Victoria, Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 44, 21–44.
| Fossil avian assemblage of pitfall origin from Holocene sediments in Amphitheatre Cave (G–2), south-western Victoria, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barker, F. K., Cibois, A., Schikler, P., Feinstein, J., and Cracraft, J. (2004). Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101, 11 040–11 045.
| Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXmsVCmt7k%3D&md5=43be8013611d2c143440ea2ddb28299aCAS |
Baumel, J. J., and Raikow, R. J. (1993). Arthrologia. In ‘Handbook of Avian Anatomy: Nomina Anatomica Avium.’ 2nd edn. Publications of the Nuttall Ornithological Club 23. (Eds J. J. Baumel, A. S. King, J. E. Breazile, H. E. Evans and J. C. Vanden Berge.) pp. 133–188. (Nuttall Ornithological Club: Cambridge, MA.)
Baumel, J. J., and Witmer, L. M. (1993). Osteologia. In ‘Handbook of Avian Anatomy: Nomina Anatomica Avium’. 2nd edn. Publications of the Nuttall Ornithological Club 23. (Eds J. J. Baumel, A. S. King, J. E. Breazile, H. E. Evans and J. C. Vanden Berge.) pp. 45–132. (Nuttall Ornithological Club: Cambridge, MA.)
Beecher, W. J. (1953). A phylogeny of the oscines. Auk 70, 270–333.
| A phylogeny of the oscines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Black, K. H., Archer, M., Hand, S. J., and Godthelp, H. (2012). The rise of Australian marsupials: a synopsis of biostratigraphic, phylogenetic, palaeoecologic and palaeobiogeographic understanding. In ‘Earth and Life: Global Biodiversity, Extinction Intervals and Biogeographic Perturbations Through Time’. (Ed. J. A. Talent.) pp. 983–1078. (Springer: London.)
Boles, W. E. (1993). A logrunner Orthonyx (Passeriformes, Orthonychidae) from the Miocene of Riversleigh, north-western Queensland. Emu 93, 44–49.
| A logrunner Orthonyx (Passeriformes, Orthonychidae) from the Miocene of Riversleigh, north-western Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boles, W. E. (1995). A preliminary analysis of the Passeriformes from Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland, Australia, with the description of a new species of lyrebird. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg 181, 163–170.
Boles, W. E. (1999). A new songbird (Aves : Passeriformes : Oriolidae) from the Miocene of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland, Australia. Alcheringa 23, 51–56.
| A new songbird (Aves : Passeriformes : Oriolidae) from the Miocene of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boles, W. E. (2005). Fossil honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) from the Late Tertiary of Riversleigh, north-western Queensland. Emu 105, 21–26.
| Fossil honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) from the Late Tertiary of Riversleigh, north-western Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boles, W. E. (2006). A new songbird (Aves : Passeriformes) from the mid-Cenozoic of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland. Alcheringa Special Issue 1, 31–37.
Breen, G. (1981). ‘The Mayi Languages of the Queensland Gulf Country.’ (Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies: Canberra, ACT.)
Chenu, J. C., and des Murs, M. A. P. O. (1853). Oiseaux. In ‘Encyclopédie d’Histoire Naturelle’. (Ed. J. C. Chenu.) pp. 1–312. (Marescq et Compagnie: Paris.)
Christidis, L., and Boles, W. E. (2008). ‘Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Christidis, L., and Schodde, R. (1991). Relationships of Australo-Papuan songbirds – protein evidence. Ibis 133, 277–285.
| Relationships of Australo-Papuan songbirds – protein evidence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coates, B. J. (1990). ‘The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Vol. 2: Passerines.’ (Dove Publications: Alderley, Qld.)
Cracraft, J., Barker, F. K., Braun, M., Harshman, J., Dyke, G. J., Feinstein, J., Stanley, S., Cibois, A., Schikler, P., Beresford, P., García-Moreno, J., Sorenson, M. D., Yuri, T., and Mindell, D. P. (2004). Phylogenetic relationships among modern birds (Neornithes) – toward an avian tree of life. In ‘Assembling the Tree of Life’. (Eds J. Cracraft and M. J. Donoghue.) pp. 468–489. (Oxford University Press: New York.)
Creaser, P. (1997). Oligocene–Miocene sediments of Riversleigh: the potential significance of topography. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 41, 303–314.
Debus, S. J. S. (1996). Magpies, currawongs and butcherbirds. In ‘Finches, Bowerbirds and other Passerines of Australia’. (Ed. R. Strahan.) pp. 236–262. (Angus and Robertson: Sydney.)
Dickinson, E. C. (Ed.) (2003). ‘The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World.’ 3rd edn. (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.)
Fuchs, J., Fjeldså, J., and Pasquet, E. (2006). An ancient African radiation of corvoid birds (Aves : Passeriformes) detected by mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Zoologica Scripta 35, 375–385.
| An ancient African radiation of corvoid birds (Aves : Passeriformes) detected by mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fuchs, J., Irestedt, M., Fjeldså, J., Couloux, A., Pasquet, E., and Bowie, R. C. K. (2012). Molecular phylogeny of African bush-shrikes and allies: tracing the biogeographic history of an explosive radiation of corvoid birds. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 64, 93–105.
| Molecular phylogeny of African bush-shrikes and allies: tracing the biogeographic history of an explosive radiation of corvoid birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22475817PubMed |
Hand, S. J. (1997). Hipposideros bernardsigei, a new hipposiderid (Microchiroptera) from the Miocene of Australia and a reconsideration of the monophyly of related species groups. Müncher Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen 34, 73–92.
Hand, S. J., and Archer, M. (2005). A new hipposiderid genus (Microchiroptera) from an early Miocene bat community in Australia. Palaeontology 48, 371–383.
| A new hipposiderid genus (Microchiroptera) from an early Miocene bat community in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Higgins, P. J., Peter, J. M., and Cowling, S. J. (Eds) 2006. ‘Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds. Vol. 7: Boatbill to Starlings.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)
Hope, J. H., Lampert, R. J., Edmondson, E., Smith, M. J., and Van Tets, G. F. (1977). Late Pleistocene faunal remains from Seton rock shelter, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Journal of Biogeography 4, 363–385.
| Late Pleistocene faunal remains from Seton rock shelter, Kangaroo Island, South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hugall, A. F., and Stuart-Fox, D. (2012). Accelerated speciation in colour-polymorphic birds. Nature 485, 631–634.
| Accelerated speciation in colour-polymorphic birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XnvVykt7g%3D&md5=44f183e44710b41b8b66fa688d20642dCAS | 22660325PubMed |
Jetz, W., Thomas, G. H., Joy, J. B., Hartmann, K., and Mooers, A. O. (2012). The global diversity of birds in space and time. Nature 491, 444–448.
| The global diversity of birds in space and time.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38Xhs1ajtrjJ&md5=caa9cae84057b0d0cc641c1853f21d6fCAS | 23123857PubMed |
Johnstone, R. E., and Storr, G. M. (2004). ‘Handbook of Western Australian Birds. Vol. 2: Passerines (Blue-winged Pitta to Goldfinch).’ (Western Australian Museum: Perth.)
Jønsson, K. A., Fabre, P. H., Ricklefs, R. E., and Fjeldså, J. (2011). Major global radiation of corvoid birds originated in the proto-Papuan archipelago. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108, 2328–2333.
| Major global radiation of corvoid birds originated in the proto-Papuan archipelago.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21262814PubMed |
Kearns, A. M., Joseph, L., and Cook, L. G. (2013). A multilocus coalescent analysis of the speciational history of the Australo-Papuan butcherbirds and their allies. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 66, 941–952.
| A multilocus coalescent analysis of the speciational history of the Australo-Papuan butcherbirds and their allies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23219707PubMed |
Linnaeus, C. (1758). ‘Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Vol. 1.’ 10th revised edn. (Laurentii Salvii: Holmiae (Stockholm).)
Manegold, A. (2008a). Composition and phylogenetic affinities of vangas (Vangidae, Oscines, Passeriformes) based on morphological characters. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 46, 267–277.
| Composition and phylogenetic affinities of vangas (Vangidae, Oscines, Passeriformes) based on morphological characters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Manegold, A. (2008b). Earliest fossil record of the Certhioidea (treecreepers and allies) from the early Miocene of Germany. Journal für Ornithologie 149, 223–228.
| Earliest fossil record of the Certhioidea (treecreepers and allies) from the early Miocene of Germany.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Manegold, A., Mayr, G., and Mourer-Chauviré, C. (2004). Miocene songbirds and the composition of the European passeriform avifauna. Auk 121, 1155–1160.
| Miocene songbirds and the composition of the European passeriform avifauna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McEvey, A. (1976). Osteological notes on Grallinidae, Cracticidae and Artamidae. Proceedings of the International Ornithological Congress 16, 150–160.
Moriarty, K. C., McCulloch, M. T., Wells, R. T., and McDowell, M. C. (2000). Mid-Pleistocene cave fills, megafaunal remains and climate change at Naracoorte, South Australia: towards a predictive model using U–Th dating of speleothems. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 159, 113–143.
| Mid-Pleistocene cave fills, megafaunal remains and climate change at Naracoorte, South Australia: towards a predictive model using U–Th dating of speleothems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moyle, R. G., Cracraft, J., Lakim, M., Nais, J., and Sheldon, F. H. (2006). Reconsideration of the phylogenetic relationships of the enigmatic Bornean Bristlehead (Pityriasis gymnocephala). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39, 893–898.
| Reconsideration of the phylogenetic relationships of the enigmatic Bornean Bristlehead (Pityriasis gymnocephala).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XkslSltLg%3D&md5=1631ff3346b2210be3d827a12bb02ec0CAS | 16524745PubMed |
Nguyen, J. M. T., Boles, W. E., and Hand, S. J. (2010). New material of Barawertornis tedfordi, a dromornithid bird from the Oligo–Miocene of Australia, and its phylogenetic implications. Records of the Australian Museum 62, 45–60.
| New material of Barawertornis tedfordi, a dromornithid bird from the Oligo–Miocene of Australia, and its phylogenetic implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Norman, J. A., Ericson, P. G., Jønsson, K. A., Fjeldså, J., and Christidis, L. (2009). A multi-gene phylogeny reveals novel relationships for aberrant genera of Australo-Papuan core Corvoidea and polyphyly of the Pachycephalidae and Psophodidae (Aves : Passeriformes). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52, 488–497.
| A multi-gene phylogeny reveals novel relationships for aberrant genera of Australo-Papuan core Corvoidea and polyphyly of the Pachycephalidae and Psophodidae (Aves : Passeriformes).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXms12hsbY%3D&md5=c15a3e91ceb01b75d10983585cd4be26CAS | 19341806PubMed |
Pycraft, W. P. (1907). Contributions to the osteology of Birds. Part IX. Tyranni; Hirundines; Muscicapae, Lanii, and Gymnorhines. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 77, 352–379.
| Contributions to the osteology of Birds. Part IX. Tyranni; Hirundines; Muscicapae, Lanii, and Gymnorhines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reed, E. H., and Bourne, S. J. (2000). Pleistocene fossil vertebrate sites of the south-east region of South Australia. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 124, 61–90.
Reed, E. H., and Bourne, S. J. (2009). Pleistocene fossil vertebrate sites of the south-east region of South Australia II. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 133, 30–40.
Rich, P. V., and van Tets, G. F. (1982). Fossil birds of Australia and New Guinea: their biogeographic, phylogenetic and biostratigraphic input. In ‘The Fossil Vertebrate Record of Australasia’. (Eds P. V Rich and E. M. Thompson.) pp. 235–384. (Monash University: Clayton, Melbourne.)
Roberts, K. K., Archer, M., Hand, S. J., and Godhelp, H. (2007). New genus and species of extinct Miocene ringtail possums (Marsupialia : Pseudocheiridae). American Museum Novitates 3560, 1–15.
| New genus and species of extinct Miocene ringtail possums (Marsupialia : Pseudocheiridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Russell, E. M., and Rowley, I. C. R. (2009). Family Cracticidae (butcherbirds). In ‘Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows.’ (Eds J. del Hoyo, A. Elliot and D. A. Christie.) pp. 308–343. (Lynx Edicions: Barcelona.)
Schodde, R., and Mason, I. J. (1999). ‘Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Sibley, C. G., and Ahlquist, J. E. (1990). ‘Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: A Study in Molecular Evolution.’ (Yale University Press: New Haven, CT.)
Storr, G. M. (1952). Remarks on the Streperidae. South Australian Ornithologist 20, 78–80.
Travouillon, K. J., Archer, M., Hand, S. J., and Godthelp, H. (2006). Multivariate analyses of Cenozoic mammalian faunas from Riversleigh, north-western Queensland. Alcheringa Special Issue 1, 323–349.
Travouillon, K. J., Legendre, S., Archer, M., and Hand, S. J. (2009). Palaeoecological analyses of Riversleigh’s Oligo-Miocene sites: implications for Oligo-Miocene climate change in Australia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 276, 24–37.
| Palaeoecological analyses of Riversleigh’s Oligo-Miocene sites: implications for Oligo-Miocene climate change in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Worthy, T. H., Tennyson, A. J., Jones, C., McNamara, J. A., and Douglas, B. J. (2007). Miocene waterfowl and other birds from Central Otago, New Zealand. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 5, 1–39.
| Miocene waterfowl and other birds from Central Otago, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Worthy, T. H., Hand, S. J., and Archer, M. (in press). Phylogenetic relationships of the Australian Oligo-Miocene ratite Emuarius gidju Casuariidae. Integrative Zoology , .
| Phylogenetic relationships of the Australian Oligo-Miocene ratite Emuarius gidju Casuariidae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |