The first fossil crow (Corvus sp. indet.) from the Early Pleistocene Nihewan Paleolithic sites in North China |
| |
Authors: | Min Wang Jingmai K. O'Connor Zhonghe Zhou |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China;2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China |
| |
Abstract: | We describe a three dimensional preserved right tarsometatarsus, representing the first fossil crow from the well-known Early Pleistocene Nihewan paleolithic sites in North China. The new specimen is distinguished from other known species of the genus Corvus by the combined morphological features, especially the peculiar hypotarsus. The phylogenetic significance of the arrangement of canals at the proximal hypotarsus in passerines is discussed. Although the fossil was too incomplete to warrant the erection of a new species of Corvus, it nonetheless increases the taxonomical diversity of the Nihewan fauna and improves our knowledge on Pleistocene birds in China. Finally the paleoenvironment of the Nihewan sites are discussed in terms of its faunal composition. |
| |
Keywords: | Corvidae Corvus Early Pleistocene Hypotarsus Nihewan Tarsometatarsus |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |