Lophotis sp.

Mourer-Chauviré, Cécile & Geraads, Denis, 2010, The Upper Pliocene Avifauna of Ahl al Oughlam, Morocco. Systematics and Biogeography, Records of the Australian Museum 62 (1), pp. 157-184 : 173-174

cf. Lophotis sp.

Fig. 5F–G

Material. Almost complete right coracoid, AaO-768.

Measurements (in mm): internal length, 41.4; length from the top of acrocoracoid to the sternal part of the scapular facet, 14.0; proximal width from the medial side of the scapular facet to the lateral side of the glenoid facet, 7.7; least width of shaft, 4.4; depth of shaft at the same level, 3.9; depth of the sternal facet, 4.4.

On this coracoid, the ventral-most tip of the acrocoracoid, the Angulus medialis, and the lateral side of the sternal part are missing. This coracoid has been compared with those of the genera Tetrax , Eupodotis , Afrotis , Lissotis , and Lophotis , and it is most similar to the genus Lophotis . Its morphological chracteristics are as follows: its shape is elongate and more slender than in the other genera; the impression of the M. sternocoracoidei is not strongly indicated; the procoracoid protrudes from the shaft very close to the scapular facet, it is narrow at its base, whereas it is wider in the other genera. In the genus Lissotis , the shaft strongly widens in the sternal direction below the scapular facet, whereas this is not the case in the Ahl al Oughlam fossil. Among bustards there is a difference in the shape of the acrocoracoid: in the genera Tetrax and Lissotis it forms a very long point directed medially and ventrally, whilst in Afrotis and Lophotis it is shorter, unfortunately it is not possible to see this characteristic on the fossil. This coracoid cannot belong to the same species as the tarsometatarsus referred to Chlamydotis sp. cf. C. mesetaria : it corresponds to a smaller form. Its dimensions are slightly larger than those of three comparative specimens of Lophotis ruficrista gindiana from the USNM.

Order Charadriiformes

Figures

Figure 5. Otis sp. size Otis tarda, A–B: (A) right ulna, proximal part, AaO-766, cranial view: (B) right ulna, distal part, AaO-767, ventral view.Chlamydotis sp. cf. C. mesetaria, C–E: (C) right tarsometatarsus, proximal part and shaft,AaO-2644, caudal view; (D) idem, cranial view; (E) idem, proximal view. cf. Lophotis sp., F–G: (F) right coracoid, almost complete,AaO-768, dorsal view; (G) idem, ventral view. (H) Columba sp. cf. C. pisana, right humerus, distal part and shaft,AaO-2672, cranial view. (I) Catharacta sp. cf. C. skua, right humerus, distal part and shaft, AaO-4793, cranial view. … [caption continued on facing page]