The cretaceous birds of New Jersey

Chapter 28: Aves, incertae sedis

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Archaeology & Anthropology Science - Biology

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This revision presents fossil avian material from Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) marine deposits of New Jersey, incorporating newly collected specimens from the Inversand marl pits and reexamining century-old types. About eight genera and nine species are recognized, most assigned to a primitive charadriiform-like assemblage provisionally referred to the form family Graculavidae (including genera such as Graculavus, Telmatornis, Anatalavis, Laornis, and Palaeotringa). A new family, Tytthostonychidae, and the genus and species Tytthostonyx glauconiticus are proposed for a distinctive humerus possibly allied to procellariiform or pelecaniform birds. The fauna appears neognathous but cannot be placed in modern families.

Aves, incertae sedis

Figure 9g

Referred Material.—Distal end of left femur, NJSM 12119.

Locality and Horizon.—Inversand Company marl pit, Sewell, Gloucester County, New Jersey; from processed spoil piles, precise stratum unknown; collected 12 December 1981 by Cynthia Miller. Presumably from the Hornerstown Formation but could be either Late Cretaceous or Paleocene.

Measurements (in mm).—Distal width 4.3, distal depth 3.8.

Comparisons.—This is also from a very small bird, possibly the same size as the species represented by the preceding ulna (ANSP 15713; Figure 9e,f) but probably somewhat larger. It is characterized by an extremely well-developed tubercle for the attachment of M. gastrocnemius lateralis. A perfunctory perusal of modern taxa revealed nothing similar.