Genus Palaeotringa Marsh, 1870
Type-Species.—Palaeotringa littoralis Marsh, 1870; by subsequent designation (Hay, 1902:527).
Included Species.—Palaeotringa littoralis Marsh, 1870, and Palaeotringa vagans Marsh, 1872.
Palaeotringa littoralis Marsh, 1870
Figure 7l
Holotype.—Distal portion of left tibiotarsus lacking most of the inner condyle, YPM 830.
Locality and Horizon.—Collected in the "middle marl beds" by Nicolas Wain from his marl pits near Hornerstown, New Jersey; Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), either basal Hornerstown Formation or Navesink Formation.
Measurements (in mm).—Depth through outer condyle 8.2; width of shaft just proximal to outer condyle 7.0.
Comparisons.—This specimen and that of P. vagans are too fragmentary for useful comparison. Both have the foramen in the groove for M. peroneus brevis, mentioned above. Their overall similarity to Presbyornis and to charadriiform birds in general justifies retaining them with the other "graculavids" but other than this little else can be said. In size, Palaeotringa littoralis would have been about equal to Burhinus bistriatus vocifer and smaller than Esacus magnirostris. Hence it would seem to be too small to belong to the same species as Graculavus velox and is definitely too large to be referable to Telmatornis priscus.
Palaeotringa littoralis?
Figure 9a
Referred Material.—Distal portion of a left humerus, NJSM 11303.
Locality and Horizon.—Collected from the main fossiliferous layer of the Inversand Company marl pit, Sewell, Gloucester County, New Jersey; Hornerstown Formation, latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian); collected 27 September 1972 by David C. Parris.
Measurements (in mm).—Distal width 12.8, depth through dorsal condyle 6.9, width of shaft at proximal extent of brachial fossa 8.2.
Comparisons.—This interesting specimen, although considerably worn, clearly has the overall "graculavid" morphology but shows sufficient differences from the humeri of Telmatornis or Anatalavis to warrant its generic separation from them. In size it is about equal to the modern form Burhinus bistriatus vocifer and hence would be compatible with P. littoralis. It differs from Telmatornis, Anatalavis, or Presbyornis, and is more similar to Burhinus in having (1) the brachial depression wider, shallower, and more proximally situated. Although affected by wear, (2) the dorsal condyle is nevertheless considerably smaller and not produced as far proximally as in any of the preceding genera, although Presbyornis is more similar in this respect than the others. In distal view the specimen is more similar to Presbyornis than to the other Cretaceous humeri, although (3) the olecranal fossa is shallower. If this specimen is correctly referred to Palaeotringa, it shows that genus to be distinct from any of the others yet known in the fauna except possibly Graculavus, for which the distal end of the humerus is unknown.
Palaeotringa vagans Marsh, 1872
Figure 7m
Holotype.—Fragmented distal two-thirds of a left tibiotarsus lacking the external condyle and the anterior portion of the internal condyle, YPM 835.
Locality and Horizon.—From Hornerstown, Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey; collected by J.G. Meirs; Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), "about ten feet below the surface of the marl" (Marsh, 1872:365), either basal Hornerstown Formation or Navesink Formation.
Measurements (in mm).—Width of shaft just proximal to external condyle 5.8.
Comparisons.—This very unsatisfactory specimen comes from a species smaller than P. littoralis and larger than P. vetus (= Telmatornis priscus). It differs from the latter and agrees with P. littoralis in having the distal tendinal opening of a flattened oval shape, rather than decidedly rounded. If we have correctly referred P. vetus to Telmatornis priscus, then it is certain that neither of the other two species of Palaeotringa can be referred to Telmatornis. In P. vagans the tendinal groove appears to be much narrower and the bridge much deeper than in P. littoralis, but this is in part due to damage and possible immaturity in the latter specimen, so it remains possible that these species are in fact congeneric. The species P. vagans can be retained as it is smaller than any of the other graculavids in the fauna except T. priscus, from which it is generically distinct.
Graculavidae, Genus and Species Indeterminate
Figure 9b,c
Referred Material.—Abraded distal end of left humerus and associated proximal portion of humeral shaft, proximal end of radius, and fragment of shaft of ulna, NJSM 11302.
Locality and Horizon.—Collected from the main fossiliferous layer of the Inversand Company marl pit, Sewell, Gloucester County, New Jersey; Hornerstown Formation, latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian); collected 15 August 1972 by David C. Parris.
Measurements (in mm).—Humerus: distal width 19 mm, depth through dorsal condyle 9.7, width of shaft at proximal extent of brachial fossa 11.0; greatest proximal diameter of radius 7.0.
Comparisons.—The distal end of the humerus is the only reasonably diagnostic element in this assortment and indicates a large, robust species that would have exceeded in size any of the others known in this Cretaceous avifauna except Laornis edvardsianus, which was much larger still. In size this bird would have approximated the modern flamingo Phoeniconaias minor, which it somewhat resembles in morphology as well. The humerus is not greatly different from that of other Graculavidae in general aspect but is distinct in having a larger, much deeper, and more proximally situated brachial depression. It represents a species distinct from any of the others yet known in the fauna and is certainly generically distinct from all except possibly Graculavus, for which comparable elements are unknown.