The cretaceous birds of New JerseyOlson, Storrs L.
Science
The cretaceous birds of New Jersey
Olson, Storrs L.
Birds, Fossil; Paleontology -- Cretaceous; Paleontology -- New Jersey
The distal portion of the humerus of _Telmatornis_ is similar to that
in _Presbyornis_ but differs in having (1) the dorsal condyle decidedly
more elongate; (2) olecranal fossa much shallower; (3) ventral
epicondyle in ventral view less distinctly demarcated but (4) more
protrudent in lateral or medial view.
The proximal end of humerus (YPM 850) that is the holotype of
_Graculavus pumilis_ was considered by Shufeldt (1915:19) definitely
to be from a limicoline charadriiform. It is from a bird exactly the
size of _Telmatornis priscus_ and its coloration and preservation would
not be incompatible with its being the opposite end of the same bone
as the holotype of _T. affinis_ (Figure 5_b,c,f,g_). The following
differences between the holotypical humeri of _G. velox_ and _“G.”
pumilis_ establish that these belong to different genera: (1) in
_velox_ the area dorsal to the ventral tubercle and distal to the head
is much more excavated, undercutting the head; (2) the dorsal tubercle
is more pronounced; (3) there is a distinct excavation distomedial to
the ventral tubercle, lacking in _pumilis_; (4) the ventral tubercle in
ventral view is much more produced in _velox_ than in _pumilis_.
The holotype of _G. pumilis_ is very similar to the humerus in the
Burhinidae but differs from that family and agrees with _Graculavus_
in characters 8, 9, and 10 (p. 6). It differs further from the
Burhinidae in having the area for the attachment of M. scapulohumeralis
caudalis extending farther distally in ventral view. It differs from
_Presbyornis_ mainly in lacking the excavation to and undercutting
the head. Because pumilis is not congeneric with _Graculavus velox_
and because of its size and similarities with the Burhinidae and
_Presbyornis_, we have no hesitation about considering Graculavus
pumilis Marsh, 1872, to be a junior subjective synonym of _Telmatornis
priscus_ Marsh, 1870.
The proximal end of an ulna, NJSM 11900 (Figure 5_j_), is from a bird
the size of _Burhinus vermiculatus_ and not too dissimilar to it
except that the shaft is more robust in the fossil. The specimen is
too imperfect to merit detailed study and is referred to Telmatornis
priscus only on size and probability.
The very fragmentary distal end of carpometacarpus associated with the
type of _G. pumilis_ (Figure 5_i_) is slightly larger and more robust
than in _Burhinus vermiculatus_, but not so much as to be incompatible
with _T. priscus_. Compared to _Burhinus_ (1) the symphysial area
is deeper and (2) the articular surface for the major digit is
proportionately larger, the specimen being somewhat more similar to the
carpometacarpus in _Presbyornis_.
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