Pelvic elements of the giant bird Gargantuavis from the Upper Cretaceous of Cruzy (southern France), with remarks on pneumatisation. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buffetaut, Eric; Angst, Delphine
• Is Part Of: Cretaceous research. Volume 66(2016)
• Page Start: 171
• Page End: 176
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Late Cretaceous -- France -- Aves -- Gargantuavis -- Pneumatisation; Geology, Stratigraphic -- Cretaceous -- Periodicals; 551.77
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2016.06.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6671

Abstract

Abstract: A synsacrum fragment and an incomplete ilium of the giant bird Gargantuavis philoinos are described from the upper Campanian/lower Maastrichtian Montplo-Nord locality at Cruzy (Hérault, southern France). The ilium provides new information about the pelvic morphology of Gargantuavis . Both the synsacrum and ilium are extensively pneumatised. This extensive pneumatisation may be a plesiomorphic feature, but may also have had a weight-reduction function in a large flightless bird.