PHOENICOPTERIDAE, Bonaparte, 1831

Mayr, Gerald, 2004, Morphological evidence for sister group relationship between flamingos (Aves: Phoenicopteridae) and grebes (Podicipedidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 140 (2), pp. 157-169 : 159-161

( PHOENICOPTERIDAE + PODICIPEDIDAE )

In all the resulting trees, the following characters were optimized as synapomorphies of the taxon ( Phoenicopteridae + Podicipedidae ); the numbers in parentheses refer to character numbers in Appendix 1:

(30) At least fourth to seventh cervical vertebrae strongly elongate, processus spinosus forming a marked ridge (CI = 1.0). The shape of the cervical vertebrae of flamingos is very characteristic and strongly resembles that of grebes. are 23 praesacral vertebrae, in grebes the number varies from 23 (e.g. Tachybaptus ruficollis ) to 26 (e.g. Podiceps grisegena ); in most other birds there are between 18 and 21 praesacral vertebrae.

(32) At least four thoracic vertebrae fused to a notarium (CI = 0.25). In flamingos, four vertebrae are fused, in grebes the number varies between four and five ( Storer, 1982). A notarium is absent in other taxa that were previously considered to be related to the Phoenicopteridae ( Anseriformes , Ciconiidae and Recurvirostridae ).

(41) Humerus with a marked oval depression at insertion site of musculus scapulohumeralis cranialis (CI = 1.0). This character was regarded by Olson & Feduccia (1980a) to be a unique feature of flamingos (including the fossil taxa Juncitarsus and Palaelodidae ), but it is also present in grebes ( Fig. 2 ).

(44) Ulna, distal end with marked depressio radialis (CI = 0.333).

(46) Phalanx proximalis digiti majoris very elongate and narrow craniocaudally (ratio length to craniocaudal width more than 4.5, see Fig. 2 ) (CI = 0.5).

(56) Tibiotarsus, distal rim of condylus medialis distinctly notched (CI = 0.5). This character was noted as synapomorphy of the taxon ( Phoenicopteridae + Ciconiidae ) by Cracraft (1988) and as a shared derived feature of the taxon ( Phoenicopteridae + Recurvirostridae ) by Olson & Feduccia (1980a); it is also present in the Podicipedidae .

(62) Musculus iliotibialis lateralis, pars acetabularis absent (CI = 0.5). This muscle is reduced in few other avian taxa ( McKitrick, 1991). a few other avian taxa; it is, however, poorly developed in Ciconiidae , Ardeidae , Threskiornithidae and Balaenicipitidae ( McKitrick, 1991) .

(68) Wing with 11 primaries (CI = 0.5). Eleven primaries otherwise occur only in storks ( Ciconiidae ). Ironically, Olson & Feduccia (1980a) noted that the ‘taxonomic distribution of this character strongly suggests independent derivation in all instances [grebes, flamingos, and storks]’.

(69) Eggs covered with a chalky layer of amorphous calcium phosphate (CI = 1.0). This character otherwise occurs only in some galliform birds ( Megapodiidae, Mikhailov, 1995 ). The eggs of few other taxa ( Balaenicipitidae , Scopidae , many Pelecaniformes , Spheniscidae and some Cuculidae ) are covered with a layer of amorphous calcium carbonate ( Mikhailov, 1995).

Figures

Figure 2. Proximal end of right humerus (A–D) and proximal phalanx of major digit (E–I) in comparison. (A) Phoenicopterus chilensis (Phoenicopteridae); (B) Palaelodus sp. (Palaelodidae, SMF Av 191a); (C) Tachybaptus ruficollis (Podicipedidae); (D) Eudocimus ruber (Threskiornithidae); (E) Juncitarsus merkeli (cast of holotype in SMF, coated with ammonium chloride); (F) Phoenicopterus ruber (Phoenicopteridae); (G) Palaelodus sp. (Palaelodidae, SMF Av 274g); (H) Aechmophorus occidentalis (Podicipedidae); (I) Eudocimus ruber (Threskiornithidae). The arrows indicate the marked depression at the attachment site of musculus scapulohumeralis cranialis (character 41). Not to scale.