Interrelationships of the Threskiornithidae and the phylogenetic position of the Miocene ibis 'Plegadis' paganus from the Saint‐Gérand‐le‐Puy area in central France. (18th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Pietri, Vanesa L.; Collinson, Martin
• Is Part Of: Ibis. Volume 155:Number 3(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 544
• Page End: 560
• Publication Date: 2013-06-18
• Subjects: Birds -- Periodicals; 598
• DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12062
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0019-1019

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ibi12062-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The fossil ibis <italic>Plegadis paganus</italic> is known from the Early Miocene of the Saint‐Gérand‐le‐Puy area, France. It was first described in the 19th century by Milne‐Edwards (1867–1868), who noticed similarities with members of the extant genera <italic>Eudocimus</italic> and <italic>Plegadis</italic>, a view endorsed by subsequent descriptions. The fossil's present placement within the genus <italic>Plegadis</italic> is not supported by synapomorphic features, and important differences with members of this genus have been noted in the past. The present analysis demonstrates that retention of <italic>P</italic>. <italic>paganus</italic> in the extant genus <italic>Plegadis</italic> is no longer justified, and it is therefore referred to the new genus <italic>Gerandibis</italic>. A phylogenetic analysis of 55 osteological characters supports placement of <italic>Gerandibis pagana</italic> in a clade together with Neotropical taxa. This analysis also allowed for an evaluation of the relationships among extant threskiornithids. Contrary to results obtained in molecular‐based phylogenies, the present analysis supports a basal divergence of crown group Threskiornithidae into a clade comprising <italic>Threskiornis</italic> and <italic>Platalea</italic> and a clade comprising all other ibises. Within the latter, two clades, one made up of Old World taxa and the other consisting predominantly of New World taxa, were recovered.</p> </abstract>