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The Diptera fauna of the Galápagos Archipelago is updated and an annotated checklist is presented. Currently 50 families, 207 genera, and a minimum of 324 species are recorded from the islands. Approximately 107 species are considered to have arrived on the Galápagos Islands through human introductions, an estimated 101 species are considered endemic, 42 species have naturally colonized the islands from mainland Americas, 21 species are either introduced or arrived naturally and 53 species remain unidentified. The following new combination is proposed: Chrysanthrax primitivus (Walker) is moved to Hemipenthes Loew as H. primitivus (Walker) comb. nov. All references to the Galápagos taxonomic literature are included, known island species distributions listed and general remarks on the biology of many species are provided.

A new subspecies of Papasula booby is described from fossil remains collected in the Mascarene Islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues, southwestern Indian Ocean. The Mascarene Booby Papasula abbotti nelsoni ssp. nov., larger than nominate Abbott’s Booby P. a. abbotti from Christmas Island, northeast Indian Ocean, was approximately the same size as the extinct Hiva Oa Booby P. a. costelloi from the Marquesas in the Eastern Pacific. Mentioned in early accounts of Mauritius in 1668 and in 1725–26 and 1761 on Rodrigues, the Mascarene booby became extinct by the end of the 18th century. Members of another isolated but now extirpated population of Papasula abbotti from Assumption Island in the Seychelles Archipelago, the island from which the type specimen was collected, are identical to extant Christmas Island birds in size and colouration and discussed in detail herein.

The non-passerine type specimens in Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden are listed as an update to Van den Hoek Ostende et al. (1997) ‘Type-specimens of birds in the National Museum of Natural History, Leiden, Part 1. Non-Passerines’ and Roselaar and Prins (2000) ‘List of type specimens of birds in the Zoological Museum of the University of Amsterdam (ZMA), including taxa described by ZMA staff but without types in the ZMA’. All new names published by Temminck and Schlegel are listed, even when types are not in Naturalis but in other collections. We have added 380 new names and deleted 13 names originally listed in Van den Hoek Ostende et al. (1997).

Nubotis, gen. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AB1561DD-1FF0-4C9D-9294-34FBC3ACDF7D Type species. Otis nuba Cretzschmar, 1826 (currently Neotis nuba). Included species. Nubotis nuba (Cretzschmar, 1826), new combination. Diagnosis. Characters unique to the new genus among bustards are (1) a long broad sandy-rufous stripe on the central crown, (2) a forked tail involving somewhat specialised outer rectrices, and (3) a display in which the male walks with the tail-fork raised high and wing-tips resting between the fork. Etymology and remarks. The name Nubotis combines the roots nuba (ancient Nubia, in the Nile Valley in the south of Egypt and north of Sudan), the region in which the species was first found, hence its specific name, with otis, from the Greek ωτις ôtis, a bustard. The gender is feminine. The name Nubotis, which we independently coined, proves to have been used by J. Gaudin in an online commentary at https://www.birdforum.net/threads/mytaxonomic-predictions.426076/page-7, posted in mid-2022 and already listed in https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/ key-to-scientific-names/search?q= Otis. However, this name was introduced without fulfilling the requirements of publication (presumably deliberately on the part of the commentator) including registration in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank) (Art 8.5.3 and 11.1), lacking any formal description or definition to differentiate the taxon (Art. 13.1.1) or, alternatively, a bibliographic reference to a prior published statement of such (Art. 13.1.2), and self-evidently failing to constitute a published work under the revised Art. 9 (ICZN 1999, 2012). Furthermore, being part of a list of predictions, it might be judged to fail a test of availability due to being a conditional proposal (Art. 15.1).

Collar, Nigel J., Kirwan, Guy M. (2023): The generic position of the Nubian Bustard Neotis nuba (Cretzschmar, 1826) (Aves: Otididae). Zootaxa 5315 (2): 122-130, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5315.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5315.2.2

Baseline haematological and biochemical blood parameters in healthy wild birds are key to managing wild populations and to saving critically ill individuals. This knowledge is crucial for the care, rehabilitation and the release of birds after treatment in wildlife rescue centres. Plasma levels provide valuable information for the evaluation of the physical condition of animals. The objective of this study was to obtain reference values of some basic biochemical blood parameters of wild common ravens (Corvus corax). Between 2020 and 2023, we took blood samples from the wild population of common ravens in Bulgaria (n = 36). We determined the values of 18 parameters - alanine transaminase (ALT, U/I), albumin (g/l), alkaline phosphatase (ALP, U/I), amylase (U/I), aspartate transaminase (AST, U/I), calcium (mmol/l), chloride (mmol/l), cholesterol (mmol/l), creatine kinase (CK, U/I), creatinine (μmol/l), blood glucose (mmol/l), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, U/I), magnesium (mmol/l), phosphorus (mmol/l), total bilirubin (μmol/l), total protein (g/l), triglycerides (TG, mmol/l) and uric acid (μmol/l). We made a comparative analysis including the regions in which the groups were sampled and the time of year. Most of the presented results were comparable to published values of other species from the Corvidae family and some were higher (ALP, amylase, AST, CK, total protein and uric acid levels). Most of these could be explained by the capture- and handling stress. This is the first report in official literary sources presenting some basic biochemical blood parameters of healthy wild common ravens in Bulgaria. The results may be of use to scientists, veterinarians and other researchers in rescue and rehabilitation centres and they can provide the basis for further studies with regards to animal welfare and health assessment of the species.

This paper reviews the state of knowledge of the feather mites of Australia (Arachnida: Acariformes: Astigmata). The known fauna includes 149 species arranged in 95 genera and 24 families, in the Superfamilies Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea. A checklist of the fauna is provided, including bibliographic details for every species and genus. The bird host and collecting localities are listed for every species, and taxonomic and nomenclatural problems are discussed where necessary. The total fauna may include as many as 800 undescribed species. The checklist is preceded by a brief review of some aspects of the biology of feather mites, which have not been studied in the context of the Australian fauna.The correct spelling for a family of respiratory tract parasites is confirmed as Kytoditidae. Dabertia indistincta (Dabert & Atyeo, 1993) comb. n. (Syringobiidae) and Hemialges australis (Trouessart, 1885) comb. n. (Analgidae) are new combinations proposed herein.

galapagoensis (Alexander) Limonia galapagoensis Alexander, 1962: 1. Linsley & Usinger 1966: 165 [checklist]; Alexander 1970: 53 [revision]; Gerecke et al. 1995: 133 [aquatic invertebrates]. Dicranomyia (Dicranomyia) galapagoensis: Oosterbroek 2023 [online catalogue]. Distribution. Endemic. Galápagos: Isabela, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Santiago (ICCDRS). Remarks. The larvae are often found in wet moss at the entrance of caves, inside of which the adults are commonly collected. Specimens have been collected on the sea surface and in aerial nets between islands (Peck 1994a, b). Larvae were collected from the freshwater lake, El Junco (Gerecke et al. 1995)., Published as part of Sinclair, Bradley J., 2023, An annotated checklist of the Diptera of the Galápagos Archipelago (Ecuador), pp. 1-102 in Zootaxa 5283 (1) on page 14, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5283.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7912667, {"references":["Alexander, C. P. (1962) The crane flies of the Galapagos Islands (Tipulidae, Diptera). Opuscula Zoologica, 61, 1 - 5.","Linsley, E. G. & Usinger, R. L. (1966) Insects of the Galapagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Series 4, 33 (7), 113 - 196.","Alexander, C. P. (1970) Family Tipulidae. In: Papavero, N. (Ed.), A Catalogue of the Diptera of the Americas, south of the United States. Vol. 4. Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de S \" o Paulo, pp. 1 - 259.","Gerecke, R., Peck, S. B. & Pehofer, H. E. (1995) The invertebrate fauna of the inland waters of the Galapagos Archipelago (Ecuador) - a limnological and zoogeographical summary. Archiv fur Hydrobiologie, Supplement, 107 (2), 113 - 147.","Oosterbroek, P. (2023) Catalogue of the Craneflies of the World. (Diptera, Tipuloidea: Pediciidae, Limoniidae, Cylindrotomidae, Tipulidae). Available from: https: // ccw. naturalis. nl / (accessed 27 February 2023)","Peck, S. B. (1994 a) Aerial dispersal of insects between and to islands in the Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 87 (2), 218 - 224. https: // doi. org / 10.1093 / aesa / 87.2.218"]}

Proterothrix caudacuta (Trouessart, 1899) Trouessartia caudacuta Trouessart, 1899b: 34. Trouessartia caudacuta.— Canestrini & Kramer 1899: 120; Rainbow 1906: 186; Cleland 1922: 99; Radford 1953: 214, 1958: 127. Proterothrix caudacuta.— Santana 1976: 119. Host and locality in Australia: Lobivanellus lobatus, Australia (Trouessart 1899b; Canestrini & Kramer 1899; Rainbow 1906; Cleland 1922). Current name of host: Masked Lapwing, Vanellus miles (Boddaert, 1783) (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae). Notes. Most species of Proterothrix are associated with passerines,with a few species from kingfishers (Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae) and woodpeckers (Piciformes: Picidae) (Mironov & Galloway 2021). The occurrence of this species on a charadriiform bird is probably a mistake or contamination., Published as part of HALLIDAY, R. B., 2023, Prelude to a study of the feather mites of Australia (Acariformes: Astigmata), pp. 1-73 in Zootaxa 5280 (1) on page 26, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5280.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7912198, {"references":["Trouessart, E. - L. (1899 b) Diagnoses preliminaires d'especes nouvelles d'acariens plumicoles. Additions et corrections a la sous-famille des Analgesines. Bulletin de la Societe d'Etudes Scientifiques d'Angers, 28, 1 - 62.","Canestrini, G. & Kramer, P. (1899) Demodicidae and Sarcoptidae. Das Tierreich, 7, 1 - 193. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 69280","Rainbow, W. J. (1906) A synopsis of Australian Acarina. Records of the Australian Museum, 6, 145 - 193. https: // doi. org / 10.3853 / j. 0067 - 1975.6.1906.999","Cleland, J. B. (1922). The parasites of Australian birds. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia, 46, 85 - 118.","Radford, C. D. (1953) The mites (Acarina: Analgesidae) living on or in the feathers of birds. Parasitology, 42, 199 - 230. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 0031182000084468","Radford, C. D. (1958) The host-parasite relationships of the feather mites (Acarina: Analgesoidea). Revista Brasiliera Entomologica, 8, 107 - 170.","Santana, F. J. (1976) A review of the genus Trouessartia. Journal of Medical Entomology, Supplement, 1, 1 - 128. https: // doi. org / 10.1093 / jmedent / 13. Suppl 1.1","Mironov, S. V. & Galloway, T. D. (2021) Feather mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines and kingfishers in Canada. Zootaxa, 5016 (1), 1 - 55. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 5016.1.1"]}

galapagoensis Bequaert Microlynchia galapagoensis Bequaert, 1955: 384. Maa 1963: 35, 122 [remarks]; Linsley & Usinger 1966: 173 [checklist]; Guimar„es 1968: 6 [catalogue]; Maa 1969: 283 [checklist]. Microlynchia pusilla of authors (misidentification): Bequaert 1933: 135 [records]; Linsley & Usinger 1966: 173 [checklist]. Distribution. Endemic. Galápagos: Española, Santa Cruz, Santa Fé, Santiago, Wolf. Remarks. This species is believed to transmit the blood parasite Haemoproteus (Harmon et al. 1984 –85). In the Gálapagos, adults of this species were collected from Zenaida galapagoensis Gould, Buteo galapagoensis (Bequaert 1955), Mimus macdonaldi Ridgeway (Española; MONZ), and Mimus parvulus (Gould) (Santiago; Harmon et al. 1984 –85)., Published as part of Sinclair, Bradley J., 2023, An annotated checklist of the Diptera of the Galápagos Archipelago (Ecuador), pp. 1-102 in Zootaxa 5283 (1) on page 82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5283.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7912667, {"references":["Bequaert, J. C. (1955) The Hippoboscidae or louse - flies (Diptera) of mammals and birds. Part II. Taxonomy, evolution and revision of American genera and species. Entomologica Americana, 35, 233 - 416.","Maa, T. C. (1963) Genera and species of Hippoboscidae (Diptera): types, synonymy, habitats and natural groupings. Pacific Insects Monographs, 6, 1 - 186. https: // doi. org / 10.1093 / jmedent / 1.1.4","Linsley, E. G. & Usinger, R. L. (1966) Insects of the Galapagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Series 4, 33 (7), 113 - 196.","Maa, T. C. (1969) A revised checklist and concise host index of Hippoboscidae (Diptera). Pacific Insects Monographs, 20, 261 - 299. https: // doi. org / 10.1093 / jmedent / 6.2.146","Bequaert, J. C. (1933) The Templeton Crocker Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences, 1932. No. 11. The Hippoboscidae of the Galapagos Archipelago (Notes on the Hippoboscidae. 8.) with an appendix on the Tabanidae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Series 4, 21 (11), 131 - 138.","Harmon, W., Hawbecker, A. & Clark, W. A. (1984 - 85) Parasite studies in the Galapagos. In: Annual Report of the Charles Darwin Research Station. 1984 - 85, Galapagos, Ecuador, pp. 35 - 39."]}

Proterothrix paradisiacus (Trouessart, 1885) Proctophyllodes (Pterodectes) paradisiacus Trouessart, 1885c: 80. Pterodectes paradisiacus.— Berlese 1897: 83; Canestrini & Kramer 1899: 125; Rainbow 1906: 186; Cleland 1922: 100; Radford 1953: 215, 1958: 151. Proterothrix paradisiaca.— Park & Atyeo 1971: 69; Constantinescu et al. 2018: 461. Host and locality in Australia: Sericulus melinus, Australia (Trouessart 1885c; Canestrini & Kramer 1899); Sericulus chrysocephalus (= S. melinus), Australia (Rainbow 1906; Cleland 1922). Current name of host: Regent Bowerbird, Sericulus chrysocephalus (Lewin, 1808) (Passeriformes: Ptilonorhynchidae)., Published as part of HALLIDAY, R. B., 2023, Prelude to a study of the feather mites of Australia (Acariformes: Astigmata), pp. 1-73 in Zootaxa 5280 (1) on page 26, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5280.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7912198, {"references":["Trouessart, E. - L. (1885 c) Note sur la classification des Analgesiens et diagnoses d'especes et de genres nouveaux. Bulletin de la Societe d'Etudes Scientifiques d'Angers, 14, 46 - 89.","Berlese, A. (1897) Acari, Myriopoda et Scorpiones hucusque in Italia reperta. Ordo Cryptostigmata (Sarcoptidae). Portici: Sumptibus Auctoris, 190 pp.","Canestrini, G. & Kramer, P. (1899) Demodicidae and Sarcoptidae. Das Tierreich, 7, 1 - 193. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 69280","Rainbow, W. J. (1906) A synopsis of Australian Acarina. Records of the Australian Museum, 6, 145 - 193. https: // doi. org / 10.3853 / j. 0067 - 1975.6.1906.999","Cleland, J. B. (1922). The parasites of Australian birds. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia, 46, 85 - 118.","Radford, C. D. (1953) The mites (Acarina: Analgesidae) living on or in the feathers of birds. Parasitology, 42, 199 - 230. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 0031182000084468","Radford, C. D. (1958) The host-parasite relationships of the feather mites (Acarina: Analgesoidea). Revista Brasiliera Entomologica, 8, 107 - 170.","Park, C. K. & Atyeo, W. T. (1971) A generic revision of the Pterodectinae, a new subfamily of feather mites (Sarcoptiformes: Analgoidea). Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum, 9 (3), 39 - 88.","Constantinescu, I. C., Chisamera, G. D. & Costica, A. (2018) Redescription of six feather mite species of the genus Proterothrix Gaud, 1968 (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae) from the \" Edouard Louis Trouessart \" Collection. Zootaxa, 4486 (4), 451 - 479. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4486.4.3"]}

CRANIAL OSTEOLOGY OF JEHOLORNIS Premaxilla The premaxillae are complete in STM 3-8 (Fig. 2A–F). They are edentulous, as reported in previous publications (Zhou & Zhang, 2002, 2003; Lefèvre et al., 2014), and their external surfaces are marked by several nutrient foramina. No pits are present to receive the dentary teeth, which is different from the condition present in Ichthyornis Marsh, 1873 (Field et al., 2018). The tip of the corpus forms a ventral projection, suggesting that the tip of the beak might have been slightly hooked. Caudal to the rostral ‘hook’, the ventral margin of the premaxillary corpus is straight. The relative level of the ventral projection of this rostral ‘hook’ varies among previously reported specimens, being absent in Jeholornis YFGP-yb2 and exaggerated relative to STM 3-8 in Kompsornis AGB- 6997 (Lefèvre et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2020a). This is interpreted here as attributable to variation in preservation, but further studies are needed to exclude the possibility of intraspecific variation confidently. The premaxillary corpora are fused, whereas the frontal processes are separated (Hu et al., 2022). The frontal (nasal) process of the premaxilla is relatively short and therefore does not contact the frontal but instead articulates distally with the dorsal surface of the nasal, as in other non-ornithothoracine stem birds (e.g. Archaeopteryx and Sapeornis; Rauhut, 2014; Kundrát et al., 2018; Hu et al., 2020a) apart from Confuciusornis Hou et al., 1995 (Chiappe et al., 1999; Elżanowski et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2019a). This is evidenced by the extension level of the articular facet present in the frontal process of the premaxilla. The maxillary process of the premaxilla is short and articulates medially with the premaxillary process of the maxilla (Fig. 2A, B). It appears to be step-like, with the dorsal margin extending farther caudally than the ventral margin. The palatal process is crushed mediolaterally but could still be distinguished from the maxillary process in the 3D reconstruction. Maxilla The maxillae in Jeholornis STM 3-8 are well preserved, being almost in articulation with the premaxillae and the lacrimals (Fig. 2A, B, J–L). The premaxillary process bears a lateral depression that receives the dorsal part of the maxillary process of premaxilla. The jugal process is slender, being half of the dorsoventral height of the premaxillary process and more than twice its length. A shallow groove is present along the medial surface of the jugal process, indicating extensive contact area with the palatine, similar to Archaeopteryx (Mayr et al., 2007). The medial surface of the maxilla is rarely visible among Mesozoic bird specimens, precluding further comparisons. Although the palatal process is mostly crushed, it seems that it was sheet-like and well developed, and therefore most probably contacted the vomer, similar to the Late Cretaceous enantiornithine Gobipteryx Elżanowski, 1974 and the ornithuromorph Ichthyornis (Chiappe et al., 2001; Field et al., 2018), the only other Mesozoic birds in which the morphology of the palatal process of the maxilla is known so far. A dorsoventrally elongate oval fenestra is present between the jugal process and the ascending process in Jeholornis, being enclosed caudally by a thin, bony bar. We identify this tentatively as the maxillary fenestra (Witmer, 1997). However, it is unclear whether it is homologous with the maxillary fenestra or promaxillary fenestra of non-avian theropods and Archaeopteryx (Witmer, 1997; Barsbold & Osmólska, 1999; Xu & Wu, 2001; Mayr et al., 2007; Rauhut, 2014; Rauhut et al., 2018) or with the accessory fenestra present in the enantiornithine bird Pengornis Zhou, Clarke & Zhang, 2008 (O’Connor & Chiappe, 2011). Two alveoli are present in the maxilla. Two teeth are preserved in the left maxilla, and another two similar-sized teeth are dislocated beside the right maxilla. The maxillary teeth are straight and subconical, with blunt crowns and an expanded root. Lacrimal Both lacrimals are well preserved in articulation with the maxillae in Jeholornis STM 3-8 (Fig. 2A, B, G–I). The rostrodorsal ramus is remarkably short, approximately one-quarter the length of the long caudodorsal ramus. This differs from most other Early Cretaceous birds and non-avian theropods (e.g. Archaeopteryx and Sinornithosaurus Xu, Wang & Wu, 1999; Xu & Wu, 2001; Rauhut, 2014; Kundrát et al., 2018; Rauhut et al., 2018), in which the rostrodorsal ramus is long and the caudodorsal ramus short. The ventral ramus is caudally recurved in Jeholornis, such that the caudal margin formed by the ventral and caudodorsal processes is concave, forming the rostral/ rostrodorsal margin of the orbit. This is similar to the morphology in more crownward birds (e.g. the Late Cretaceous ornithurine bird Ichthyornis), although the rostrodorsal ramus is even more strongly reduced in Ichthyornis and does not contact the maxilla, unlike in Jeholornis (Field et al., 2018). The lacrimal morphology of Jeholornis also contrasts with the morphology of most other Early Cretaceous birds and non-avian theropods, in which the ventral ramus is almost perpendicular to the ventral margin of the skull or is inclined cranially (Wang et al., 2021). The lacrimal of the confuciusornithiforms appears to be slender and reduced, also presenting a short or totally absent rostrodorsal ramus and slightly caudally recurved ventral ramus (Elżanowski et al., 2018; Wang & Zhou, 2018; Wang et al., 2019a), potentially similar to Jeholornis. However, owing to the potential uncertainty from 2D preservation of currently published skulls of confuciusornithiforms, 3D data are needed to confirm this in future analyses. Disarticulation prevents detailed reconstruction of articulations between the lacrimal, the nasal and the preorbital ossification in Jeholornis STM 3-8. The ventral ramus of the lacrimal is interpreted as contacting the jugal process of the maxilla and, potentially, might have contacted the rostral tip of the jugal, whereas the lacrimal contacts the jugal in other theropods (Xu & Wu, 2001; Rauhut, 2014; Kundrát et al., 2018; Rauhut et al., 2018). The caudal margin of the lacrimal, which forms the cranial margin of the orbit, is remarkably excavated, and the excavation extends across both the ventral and caudodorsal processes. A lacrimal foramen lies within the centre of the excavation, entering medially into the main body of the lacrimal at around its mid-height, at the junction of the ventral ramus and the caudodorsal ramus. The size and central position of this foramen resemble the condition in Ichthyornis (Field et al., 2018), although the lacrimal of Ichthyornis differs in lacking the rostrodorsal ramus and thus the contact with the maxilla. In contrast, this foramen is much smaller and penetrates lateromedially in enantiornithine IVPP V12707, which also lacks any excavation on the lacrimal on the rostral orbit margin of the lacrimal (Wang et al. 2021). This contrasts with the craniocaudal extension of the lacrimal foramen in Jeholornis. Nasal The left nasal is well preserved (Fig. 3A, B). The nasal corpus is mediolaterally broad, similar to Sapeornis (Hu et al., 2019, 2020a) but unlike the more elongated condition present in Archaeopteryx (Mayr et al., 2007; Rauhut, 2014; Kundrát et al., 2018), confuciusornithiforms (Elżanowski et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2019a) and enantiornithines (O’Connor & Chiappe, 2011). Both the premaxillary and the maxillary processes are delicate and sharply tapered rostrally. The premaxillary process is slightly longer than the maxillary process, and the deflections of both processes in the left nasal are taphonomic, resulting from crushing between the right nasal and left lacrimal. The premaxillary process does not extend to the base of the frontal process of the premaxilla, therefore leaving the premaxilla to form most of the rostrodorsal margin of the external naris. This is different from the condition in Archaeopteryx, in which the premaxillary process is substantially longer than the maxillary process and forms part of the dorsal–rostrodorsal margin of the external naris (Rauhut, 2014; Kundrát et al., 2018). The maxillary process of the premaxilla of Jeholornis is also relatively short and does not extend to the base of the ascending process of the maxilla, therefore not contacting the premaxilla. This leaves the maxilla to form the caudoventral margin of the external naris, similar to Archaeopteryx (Rauhut, 2014). Preorbital ossification Specimen STM 3-8 preserves a mysterious pair of sheet-like elements previously referred to as ‘preorbital ossifications’ (Fig. 3C, D; Hu et al., 2022), which might represent prefrontals based on their overall shape and location. This is supported by their location almost parallel to the craniodorsal process of the lacrimal, which rules out identification as the ectethmoid, especially considering that other rostral elements are mostly preserved in situ. If this element is the prefrontal, it differs from the prefrontals of all other pennaraptorans so far, which are strongly reduced or absent, being typically smaller than the nasal (e.g. in Archaeopteryx and Sinornithosaurus; Xu & Wu, 2001; Rauhut et al., 2018). This could suggest that an unfused, expanded prefrontal might be a derived feature of Jeholornis and challenges the hypothesis based on the embryonic observations that the prefrontal fused to form the caudodorsal ramus of the lacrimal in all birds (Smith-Paredes et al., 2018). If correctly identified, this suggests that a broad prefrontal co-exists with a lacrimal with a well-developed caudodorsal process in Jeholornis. However, owing to the lack of available comparisons of any similar ossifications among non-avian dinosaurs and birds, we cannot exclude the possibility that this bone represents some other element that is rarely preserved or developed in Mesozoic birds. For example, the preorbital ossification described here could be a palpebral, although we consider this to be much less likely owing to its preserved location, close to the midline of the skull. Jugal Only the left jugal is preserved in STM 3-8 (Fig. 3G, H). The maxillary process is as slender as the jugal process of the maxilla, similar to the jugal of Archaeopteryx (Elżanowski & Wellnhofer, 1996; Kundrát et al., 2018; Rauhut et al., 2018) but in contrast to the relatively more robust condition in Sapeornis (Hu et al., 2020a). The rostral quarter of the maxillary process is slightly constricted and bears a depression in the distal end of the dorsal margin, defining the articulation with the maxilla. The articulation between the jugal and the maxilla is much shorter than in Sapeornis, in which the maxilla extends caudally almost to the base of the postorbital bar (Hu et al., 2020a). An oval concavity is present centrally on the lateral surface of the maxillary process. A similar depression is also present in Archaeopteryx, although in a more rostral position (Mayr et al., 2007; Rauhut, 2014), but is absent in most other Mesozoic birds (e.g. Sapeornis, Ichthyornis and enantiornithines; Wang & Hu, 2017; Field et al., 2018; Hu et al., 2020a). The quadratojugal process of the jugal of Jeholornis lacks the notch present in Sapeornis and many non-avian theropods, which is also absent in known enantiornithines but possibly present in Ichthyornis (Rauhut, 2003; Xu et al., 2015; Wang & Hu, 2017; Field et al., 2018; Hu et al., 2020b). Because of this, the quadratojugal of Jeholornis articulates with the dorsolateral surface of the quadratojugal process of the jugal, differing from the wedge-like articulation seen in Sapeornis and other Mesozoic theropods (e.g. Linheraptor Xu et al., 2015; Xu et al., 2015; Hu et al., 2020a). The postorbital process of the jugal of Jeholornis is triangular with a broad base and is dorsally oriented. This contrasts with the caudodorsal orientation seen in Archaeopteryx and Sapeornis (Mayr et al., 2007; Rauhut, 2014; Kundrát et al., 2018; Hu et al., 2020a). A shallow impression on the rostrolateral surface of the postorbital process defines the articulation with the postorbital, indicating the presence of a complete postorbital bar in Jeholornis. Quadratojugal The left quadratojugal is complete, but slightly disarticulated from the jugal (Fig. 3E, F). The jugal process is twice as long as the squamosal process and is more slender; both are bluntly tapered. The ventromedial surface of the jugal process contacts the jugal, in contrast to the inserting articulation with the caudal notch of the jugal in Sapeornis and most non-avian theropods (Xu et al., 2015; Hu et al., 2020a). The squamosal process is reduced and does not contact the squamosal dorsally, similar to the condition in other Mesozoic birds, including Archaeopteryx, Sapeornis and various others (e.g. RapaxaƲis pani Morschhauser et al., 2009 and Cruralispennia multidonta Wange et al., 2017; Mayr et al., 2007; O’Connor et al., 2011; Rauhut, 2014; Wang et al., 2017b; Hu et al., 2020a). Postorbital The left postorbital is completely preserved and the right is broken in STM 3-8 (Fig. 3I–K). The postorbital is triradiate and more robust than that of Archaeopteryx (Kundrát et al., 2018; Rauhut et al., 2018; Hu et al., 2020a). The jugal process is long and tapers ventrally, extending most of the skull height ventrally, and therefore forming most of the postorbital bar. In contrast, one specimen of Archaeopteryx preserves a slightly longer jugal process (Rauhut et al., 2018), whereas others preserve a jugal process almost equal in length to the other processes (Kundrát et al., 2018). The elongate jugal process of Jeholornis more closely resembles the condition in some enantiornithines (e.g. Longusunguis Wang et al., 2014 and enantiornithines LP4450 and IVPP V12707). However, it is much more robust than that of some other enantiornithines (Sanz et al., 1997; Hu et al., 2020b; Zhou et al., 2008). The squamosal process of the postorbital of Jeholornis is short, less than half the length of the frontal process, and has a sharply tapered end, whereas this process is longer in Sapeornis and Archaeopteryx (Rauhut et al., 2018; Hu et al., 2020a). The dorsal surface of the squamosal process bears a concave facet for articulation with the squamosal. Squamosal Both squamosals are preserved, although only the right is complete in STM 3-8 (Fig. 3L, M). The squamosal is not fused to the braincase, similar to the condition in non-avian theropods, Archaeopteryx and enantiornithines (e.g. LP4450 and IVPP V12707; Elżanowski & Wellnhofer, 1996; Sanz et al., 1997; Rauhut, 2003; Norman et al., 2004; Xu et al., 2015; Rauhut et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2021). The rarity with which squamosals are preserved in other stem birds complicates interpretation of the morphology seen in Jeholornis. However, the concavity in the medial surface of this bone fits the otic process of the quadrate, and thus could be interpreted as the quadrate cotyle of the squamosal, supporting our identification of this element as a squamosal. The triangular, sharply tapered, rostroventrally directed process is identified as the postorbital process, resembling that in enantiornithine IVPP V12707 (Wang et al., 2021), and contrasts with the forked condition in Archaeopteryx (Elżanowski & Wellnhofer, 1996; Kundrát et al., 2018). The ventrally oriented quadratojugal process is short, with a blunt ventral margin, not contacting the quadratojugal. This suggests that the loss of the quadratojugal–squamosal contact might have evolved independently in Jeholornis and in ornithurines, but remained present in at least some enantiornithines (e.g. IVPP 12707) [although it also could have been regained secondarily as a derived feature (Wang et al., 2021)]. It cannot be determined whether the dorsal portion is complete, hence the shape of the parietal and the paroccipital processes of the squamosal remain uncertain. Quadrate Both quadrates are almost completely preserved (Fig. 4A–C). The shaft of the quadrate extends from the otic process dorsally to the lateral condyle caudoventrally. The orbital process is broad and lateromedially thin, resembling that of Archaeopteryx (Rauhut et al., 2018), Sapeornis (Hu et al., 2020a) and known enantiornithines [e.g. Zhouornis Zhang et al., 2013 (Zhang et al., 2013) and Pterygornis Wang et al., 2014 (Wang et al., 2015)], and differs from the narrow and rostrally projecting condition in Ichthyornis and crown birds, including the Late Cretaceous Asteriornis Field et al., 2020 (Elżanowski & Stidham, 2010; Field et al., 2018, 2020). The otic process is plesiomorphically single headed, as in Sapeornis and enantiornithines (Wang et al., 2015, 2021; Hu et al., 2020a), but differing from the divided otic capitulum and squamosal capitulum in neognaths, including Asteriornis (Field et al., 2020). A dorsoventrally oriented longitudinal ridge is present caudally on the medial surface of the otic process, similar to the condition in Sapeornis and enantiornithines (Zhang et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2015; Hu et al., 2020a), defining the caudal margin of a gentle excavation on the medial surface of the orbital process. The lateral surface is also excavated by a similar dorsoventrally oriented longitudinal ridge, but it cannot be determined whether this is attributable to the lateromedially crushed preservation of the orbital process. No pneumatic foramen is observed, different from the condition in most modern birds and Late Cretaceous ornithurines (e.g. Ichthyornis and Asteriornis; Elżanowski & Stidham, 2010; Field et al., 2018, 2020). However, two potential pneumatic recesses could be identified on the lateral surface of the quadrate in Jeholornis. Both the lateral and medial condyles are of a similar size and project caudally, defining a concave caudal margin for the quadrate. Frontal The frontals are tightly articulated with each other in STM 3-8, but not entirely fused, with the interfrontal suture clearly visible (Fig. 4D, E), similar to the condition observed in other Jeholornis specimens (Lefèvre et al, Published as part of Hu, Han, Wang, Yan, Fabbri, Matteo, O, Jingmai K., Connor, Mcdonald, Paul G., Wroe, Stephen, Yin, Xuwei, Zheng, Xiaoting, Zhou, Zhonghe & Benson, Roger B. J., 2023, Cranial osteology and palaeobiology of the Early Cretaceous bird Jeholornis prima (Aves: Jeholornithiformes), pp. 93-112 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 198 (1) on pages 95-107, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac089, http://zenodo.org/record/7926859, {"references":["Zhou Z, Zhang F. 2002. A long-tailed, seed-eating bird from the Early Cretaceous of China. Nature 418: 405 - 409.","Zhou Z, Zhang F. 2003. Jeholornis compared to Archaeopteryx, with a new understanding of the earliest avian evolution. 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Hu, Han, Wang, Yan, Fabbri, Matteo, O, Jingmai K., Connor, Mcdonald, Paul G., Wroe, Stephen, Yin, Xuwei, Zheng, Xiaoting, Zhou, Zhonghe, Benson, Roger B. J. (2023): Cranial osteology and palaeobiology of the Early Cretaceous bird Jeholornis prima (Aves: Jeholornithiformes). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 198 (1): 93-112, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac089, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/198/1/93/6768673

EMENDED DIAGNOSIS OF J. PRIMA Based on the morphological study of this specimen, we provide the following revised diagnosis for J. prima. A large stem bird with the following combination of features: premaxilla edentulous with short maxillary process; two teeth with blunt crowns in maxilla and three relatively smaller teeth in dentary (new); paired, sheet-like preorbital ossifications present near the nasals (new, autapomorphy); C-shaped lacrimal with short rostrodorsal ramus and lacrimal foramen (new); unreduced postorbital forming a complete postorbital bar with jugal (new); pterygoid rami of vomer much longer than the fused rostral portion, expanded in the middle and lacking the caudodorsal process (new); palatine with broad pterygoid wing and jugal process (new); narrow and restricted mandibular fenestra between prearticular and surangular (new); 27 caudal vertebrae in total, with the transition point occurring after the fifth vertebra; lateral trabecula of sternum absent; caudalmost pair of sternal ribs expanded; first phalanx of the third manual digit twice as long as the second phalanx; ratio of forelimb (humerus plus ulna plus carpometacarpus) to hindlimb (femur plus tibiotarsus plus tarsometatarsus) of ~1.2:1; dorsal margin of the ilium nearly straight and craniodorsal–caudoventrally oriented (modified from Zhou & Zhang, 2002; O’Connor et al., 2012; Zheng et al., 2020)., Published as part of Hu, Han, Wang, Yan, Fabbri, Matteo, O, Jingmai K., Connor, Mcdonald, Paul G., Wroe, Stephen, Yin, Xuwei, Zheng, Xiaoting, Zhou, Zhonghe & Benson, Roger B. J., 2023, Cranial osteology and palaeobiology of the Early Cretaceous bird Jeholornis prima (Aves: Jeholornithiformes), pp. 93-112 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 198 (1) on page 107, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac089, http://zenodo.org/record/7926859, {"references":["Zhou Z, Zhang F. 2002. A long-tailed, seed-eating bird from the Early Cretaceous of China. Nature 418: 405 - 409.","O'Connor JK, Sun C, Xu X, Wang X, Zhou Z. 2012. A new species of Jeholornis with complete caudal integument. Historical Biology 24: 29 - 41.","Zheng X, Sullivan C, O'Connor JK, Wang X, Wang Y, Zhang X, Zhou Z. 2020. Structure and possible ventilatory function of unusual, expanded sternal ribs in the Early Cretaceous bird Jeholornis. Cretaceous Research 116: 104597."]}

Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for gout and other cardiovascular diseases. One of the therapies used is Allopurinol. Unfortunately, it has unwanted side effects. These conditions made researchers continue to seek and develop alternative treatments from natural products. One of which is from plants of the Phyllanthus genus. One of their contents was polyphenols, especially flavonoids. It is an alternative treatment for hyperuricemia because of its minimal side effects. The flavonoids in this genus were reported to have xanthine oxidase inhibitory: quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, catechin, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin with IC50 values ​​from 0.44 M to > 100μM. The presence of π-π interactions between planar rings A and C on flavones with phe 1009 and phe 914 and the addition of hydroxyl groups on flavonoid compounds plays a crucial role in inhibiting xanthine oxidase.

We describe a stem group representative of Gaviiformes (loons or divers) from the early Eocene London Clay of Walton-on-the-Naze (Essex, UK). The holotype of Nasidytes ypresianus gen. et sp. nov. is a partial skeleton including the mandible and all major limb bones. The new species is the oldest unambiguously identified loon and the most substantial Palaeogene fossil record of Gaviiformes. The mandible of Nasidytes is proportionally wider than that of extant loons and resembles that of extant coots (Fulica spp.), which indicates that the new taxon was less piscivorous than crown group Gaviiformes. Hypotarsus morphology suggests that N. ypresianus is the sister taxon of a clade including all other Cenozoic fossil loons and crown group Gaviiformes. According to its plesiomorphic leg morphology, and unlike extant loons, the new species was not a specialized pursuit predator of fishes. The evolution of advanced diving capabilities in the stem lineage of Gaviiformes is likely to have been correlated with an increased piscivory of loons, and the skeletal morphology of Nasidytes conforms to multiple independent origins of specialized piscivory and a highly aquatic ecology in the waterbird clade (Aequornithes).

The taxonomic status of the North American and Eurasian populations of northern goshawk A. gentilis has been called into question by recent molecular studies, indicating the need for additional taxonomic study. Vocalisations have long played an important role in diagnosing potentially reproductively isolated groups of birds. The chattering-type call of A. gentilis plays a role in advertisement and pair-contact, making this a suitable basis for taxonomic study of vocalisations. The data set consisted of recordings of the calls of 75 individuals of the Eurasian gentilis-group of A. gentilis, 37 of the North American atricapillus-group of A. gentilis and, for comparison, seven of Henst’s goshawk A. henstii. The three groups showed non-overlapping variation in the duration of call-notes and also showed several other highly significant differences. Discriminant Function Analysis resulted in 100% correct classification of recordings into the three groups. It is here argued that the new bioacoustic data, in combination with previous evidence of morphological, mitochondrial DNA and genomic DNA differences between Eurasian and North American A. gentilis, suggests that two species are best recognised: northern goshawk A. gentilis and American goshawk A. atricapillus. A. gentilis / A. atricapillus add to a growing list of Holarctic temperate zone taxa that have recently been recognised as separate species based on a deep phylogeographic split between Eurasian and North American populations in combination with differences in other characters. This is the first quantitative taxonomic study of vocalisations in Accipitridae.

Genus Papasula Olson and Warheit, 1988 Papasula abbotti Olson & Warheit, 1988, p. 10 Type (by monotypy) Osteological diagnosis and comparison. The following osteological characters in combination characterize the genus Papasula. The fossil specimens are much larger than those of species in most other marine bird genera occurring in the Mascarenes, including those in Oceanitidae, Phaethontidae, Laridae, Stercorariidae, and in all Procellariidae except Macronectes giganteus. Papasula abbotti is smaller than M. giganteus and all species of Diomedeidae. It differs from similar-sized Fregata ariel and F. minor as follows. Coracoid: smaller, more gracile, and processus lateralis much less extensive. Sternum: larger; in lateral view, sulcus articularis coracoideus bordered with a much larger labrum interna and tuberculum labri externa; in dorsal view, foramina pneumatici larger, much more extensive. Humerus: more gracile, much thinner in the shaft and particularly lacks a sharply angular crista deltopectoralis. Ulna: much smaller; cotyla dorsalis larger and directed distad; impressio brachialis much more excavated; papillae remigales much less pronounced. Tarsometatarsus: most notably by much larger size, extremely reduced in length and width in Fregata, and sulcus extensorius much more deeply excavated. The Papasula material described herein is further assigned to Sulidae by the characters identified in Olson & Warheit (1988), Steadman et al. (1988), and van Tets et al. (1988), who also mentioned diagnostic characters of the cranial and other parts of the postcranial skeleton not discussed here. Coracoid (Fig. 2; table 1) In Papasula, on dorsal surface, facies articularis humeralis rotated ventrolaterad, with processus procoracoideus directed sharply proximally; cotyla scapulae small; sulcus m. supracoracoidei large and oval, with numerous foramina pneumatici; shaft wide and deep; facies articularis sternalis deep and bordered proximally by a large crista; angulus medialis long projecting proximomedially; processus lateralis strongly square-shaped with prominent distally directed angulus lateralis; labrum externum with a large, pointed process directed dorsally and a distinct proximal edge extending to distal corner of angulus lateralis; in ventral aspect, crista acrocoracoidea to impressio bicipitalis flat, not concave; in medial aspect, facies articularis clavicularis enlarged and convex, directed proximodorsally, with no crista on facies articularis clavicularis; in lateral aspect, facies articularis humeralis large and wide with proximal extension; impressio lig. acrocoracohumeralis broad and deeply excavated; impressio m. sternocoracoidei bordered by a sharp crista dorsally, extending to midline of shaft and creating a deeper, larger proximodorsal surface area. Coracoids in Masked Booby Sula dactylatra Lesson, 1831 and Red-footed Booby Sula sula (Linnaeus, 1766), in dorsal aspect, overall longer, less robust; processus procoracoideus more pointed, less triangular laterally (extending less laterad in S. sula); sulcus m. supracoracoidei smaller, with smaller and fewer foramina pneumatici; shaft narrower lateromedially and shallower dorsoventrally; facies articularis sternalis deep bordered proximally by a more extensive crista (shorter proximodistally in S. sula); angulus medialis shorter projecting more medially; impressio m. sternocoracoidei less extensive proximally; processus lateralis strongly square-shaped without proximally directed margo caudolateralis (more angular with proximally directed margo caudolateralis in S. sula) and prominent distally directed angulus lateralis; proximally and distally directed corners; pointed process on labrum externum extremely reduced or absent, with a distinct proximal edge extending to distal corner of angulus lateralis; in ventral aspect, crista acrocoracoidea to impressio bicipitalis angled; in medial aspect, facies articularis clavicularis less swollen, not convex and not directed proximodorsally, with a crista on facies articularis clavicularis; angulus medialis deflected to ventral surface due to deeper facies articularis sternalis; in lateral aspect, facies articularis humeralis smaller, narrower, extending less proximally; impressio lig. acrocoracohumeralis laterally compressed and deeper; sharp crista bordering impressio m. sternocoracoidei much shorter, extending to lateral edge of facies articularis sternalis only, and creating a shallower, smaller surface area that extends less proximally. Coracoids in Northern Gannet Morus bassanus (Linnaeus, 1758), much larger, especially proximally and distally, but shaft proportionally narrower lateromedially and shallower dorsoventrally; in dorsal aspect, sulcus m. supracoracoidei larger, but with proportionately smaller foramina pneumatici; facies articularis sternalis deeper, more extensive laterally, and proximally bordered crista more extensive; angulus medialis rounded; processus lateralis strongly square-shaped without proximally directed margo caudolateralis and prominent distally directed angulus lateralis; pointed crista on labrum externum extremely reduced or absent, with a distinct proximal edge extending to distal corner of angulus lateralis; in ventral aspect, crista acrocoracoidea to impressio bicipitalis angled; in medial aspect, facies articularis clavicularis less swollen and not convex, with a crista on facies articularis clavicularis; angulus medialis strongly deflected to ventral surface due to deeper facies articularis sternalis; in lateral aspect, facies articularis humeralis much larger, more square-shaped proximally; impressio lig. acrocoracohumeralis laterally compressed and shallower; sharp crista bordering impressio m. sternocoracoidei dorsally much shorter, extending to lateral edge of facies articularis sternalis only, creating a shallower, smaller surface area that extends less proximally. Sternum (Fig. 3; table 1) Sternum in Papasula, in lateral aspect, rostrum sterni lacks projecting spina interna or spina externa; crista lateralis carinae projects sharply craniad; sulcus articularis coracoideus wide and deep, bordered with a large, oval-shaped labrum interna and a much smaller tuberculum labri externa, less than 50% of the length; in visceral aspect, processus craniolateralis reduced and directed medially dorsally, with tuberculum labri externa extending further laterad than labrum interna; two large, cranial-placed foramen pneumatici present, with a row of smaller foramina that follow each side of the sulcus medianus sterni; in cranial view, sulcus articularis coracoideus compressed midpoint on the rostrum sterni, with the dorsal surface running directly without obstruction to the cranial visceral surface. Sternum in Sula dactylatra and Sula sula, overall smaller, narrower; in lateral aspect, sulcus articularis coracoideus shallower and narrower, with labrum interna kidney-shaped and tuberculum labri externa narrower but almost the same length (oval-shaped and tuberculum labri externa much smaller, less than 40% of the length in S. sula); in visceral aspect, two foramen pneumatici absent with fewer and smaller foramina following sulcus medianus sterni; in cranial view, sulcus articularis coracoideus more deeply compressed midpoint on rostrum sterni forming a ridge between it and cranial visceral surface. Sternum in Morus bassanus, slightly narrower; in lateral aspect, sulcus articularis coracoideus deeper, with labrum interna oval-shaped, tuberculum labri externa absent; in visceral aspect, two foramen pneumatici absent but with more numerous, large foramina concentrated cranially and not following sulcus medianus sterni; in cranial view, cranial end deeper; sulcus articularis coracoideus more deeply compressed midpoint on rostrum sterni forming a ridge between it and cranial visceral surface. Humerus (Figs. 4, 5; table 2) Humerus in Papasula, long and gracile, almost equal in total length to ulna, with reduced proximal and distal ends; on caudal surface, shaft laterally compressed especially from midshaft to fossa m. brachialis; caput humeri bulbous with a small indentation set slightly ventrad from the midline; incisura capitis rounded, shallow and not reaching proximal edge of margo caudalis; tuberculum ventrale large and prominent connecting to a shortened crus dorsale fossa that terminates with the dorsal edge of incisura capitis; large, open fossa pneumotricipitalis with two foramina pneumatici, medial foramen much larger than lateral; crista deltopectoralis compressed dorsoventrally; crista bicipitalis straight without concavity terminating abruptly with shaft distally; sulcus humerotricipitalis narrow and deeply incised and cutting distinctly ventrodorsally; sulcus scapulotricipitalis narrow and deeply incised cutting proximodistally; fossa olecrani deeply situated; epicondylus ventralis long and narrow, projecting distad to level of condyles; in cranial aspect, sulcus lig. transversus deeply incised, undercutting the caput humeri dorsally; crista bicipitalis bulbous and rugose distally, with a pronounced sulcus n. coracobrachialis that creates a crista between it and impressio coracobrachialis that extends distally beyond crista deltopectoralis; shallow impressio coracobrachialis; crista deltopectoralis terminates distally with a raised rugose crista; fossa m. brachialis deeply incised and directed proximodorsally; two foramina pneumatici situated directly above condylus dorsalis; epicondylus dorsalis indistinct; tuberculum supracondylare ventrale prominent and deflected dorsally and slightly overhangs fossa m. brachialis. Humerus in Sula dactylatra and S. sula, smaller, distal end comparatively larger; shaft more compressed mediolaterally; on caudal surface, caput humeri larger, more bulbous and base almost connects with margo caudalis distally; pneumatic foramen smaller, situated further proximally (substantially reduced or absent in S. sula); margo caudalis wider, lacking sharp crista; crista bicipitalis with clearly defined, angular contact with shaft; tuberculum ventrale directed more ventrad (more caudad in S. sula); sulcus humerotricipitalis shallower; epicondylus ventralis situated more proximally; in cranial aspect, sulcus lig. transversus deeper (narrower, extending past base of caput humeri in S. sula); crista bicipitalis more bulbous; fossa m. brachialis less extensive proximally and shallower; processus flexorius narrower, on same plane as condylus ventralis and condylus dorsalis. Humerus in Morus bassanus, overall more robust, especially on proximal and distal ends; on caudal surface, caput humeri smaller, less bulbous; tuberculum ventrale longer, directed more proximally; fossa pneumotricipitalis extremely shallow; crista bicipitalis shorter, less expansive, with slight angular contact with shaft; shaft more compressed mediolaterally; sulcus humerotricipitalis shallower; in cranial aspect, fossa m.brachialis much shallower; sulcus lig. transversus much shallower; crista bicipitalis flatter, less bulbous; fossa m. brachialis shallower, extends less proximally; processus flexorius narrower, on same plane as condylus ventralis and condylus dorsalis. Ulna (Fig. 6; table 3) In Papasula, shaft long and gracile with proximal and distal ends caudocranially compressed; in dorsal aspect, olecranon prominent and deflected slightly craniad; cotyla dorsalis weakly excavated with indistinct crista intercotylaris; incisura radialis deeply excavated with large foramen pneumaticum, and extends proximally well beyond cotyla dorsalis; impressio scapulotricipitalis shallow; 19 papillae remigales dorsalis present; incisura tendinosus prominent, especially distally, where it forms a deep sulcus, and extends proximally to top of tuberculum carpale; tuberculum carpale with large pneumatic foramen; in ventral aspect, impressio brachialis shallow and non-pneumatic, with a pronounced crista defining it for its entire length; narrow tuberculum lig. collateralis ventrale extending distally 1/3 the length of impressio brachialis; 19 papillae remigales ventralis present; condylus dorsalis ulnaris long and narrow with pronounced proximal extension; foramen pneumaticum between tuberculum carpale and condylus ventralis ulnaris adjoining sulcus intercondylaris; a second foramen pneumaticum situated craniad on tuberculum carpale; in caudal aspect, condylus ventralis ulnaris sharply hooked and directed craniad. In S. dactylatra and S. sula, much shorter, comparatively straighter, distal end more reduced; condylus ventralis ulnaris narrower; in ventral aspect, pneumatic foramen between condylus ventralis ulnaris and tuberculum carpale minute or absent; in lateral view, condylus dorsalis ulnaris extends further proximally; in dorsal aspect, tuberculum carpale shorter, extending less medially. In Morus bassanus shorter, more robust, especially the proximal and distal ends; in dorsal aspect, pneumatic foramen in incisura radialis and between condylus ventralis ulnaris and tuberculum carpale; in ventral aspect, impressio brachialis smaller, less extensive; pneumatic foramen proximal to sulcus intercondylaris minute or absent on tuberculum carpale; in lateral aspect, condylus dorsalis ulnaris less extensive proximally; in dorsal aspect, tuberculum carpale shorter, extending less medially. Tarsometatarsus (Fig. 7; table 4) Tarsometatarsus in Papasula, in dorsal aspect, broad, with lateral side of shaft straight in contrast with a concave medial side; eminentia intercotylaris small, pointed and not adjoining lateral edge of shallow cotyla lateralis; cotyla medialis with a small laterally situated crista; sulcus extensorius deeply excavated, extending down shaft to a deeply set foramen vasculare distale; lateral edge thin when viewed dorsoplantarly; two foramina vascularia proximalia, with lateral foramen smaller than medial foramen and situated further proximally; both foramina small and open directly onto plantar side; incisura intertrochlearis medialis much narrower than incisura intertrochlearis lateralis; medial sulcus of trochlea metatarsi III shallow; short, shallow sulcus running proximally from incisura intertrochlearis medialis and terminating at proximal edge of foramen vasculare distale; crista from trochlea metatarsi II to fossa metatarsi I large; trochlea metatarsi II extends further distally than trochlea metatarsi III; in plantar aspect, fossa parahypotarsalis medialis deep, angular and non-pneumatic; crista medianoplantaris prominent, long, running from crista medialis hypotarsi to lateral edge of trochlea metatarsi IV; foramen vasculare distale small; medial sulcus absent on trochlea metatarsi IV; distal surface of shaft and fossa supratrochlearis plantaris rugose; in lateral aspect, proximal margin of trochlea metatarsi IV joins the shaft almost perpendicularly; trochlea metatarsi III protrudes dorsally from plane of shaft; on proximal end, cotyla lateralis smaller than cotyla medialis and divided by a prominent eminentia intercotylaris; crista lateralis hypotarsi and crista medialis hypotarsi separated by a single crista intermedia hypotarsus; crista medialis hypotarsi large and hook-shaped, producing a large sulcus hypotarsus. Tarsometatarsus in Sula dactylatra, S. sula and Morus bassanus, overall, much narrower and less expanded distally, much longer in M. bassanus; shaft curved more medially, less straight; trochleae less widely spaced; incisura intertrochlearis lateralis much narrower; facies dorsalis less deeply set; three foramina vascularia proximalia present; origin of trochlea metatarsi II situated less proximally, not extending past trochlea metatarsi III; in plantar aspect, sulcus flexorius less rugose; crista plantaris mediana less distinct, shorter, situated less laterad on shaft; foramen vasculare distale smaller and circular, situated less proximally; in plantar aspect, sulcus flexorius less rugose; foramen vasculare distale much larger; cotyla medialis larger than cotyla lateralis; on proximal end, crista lateralis hypotarsi and crista medialis hypotarsi connected to a single crista intermedia hypotarsus; crista medialis hypotarsi square-shaped with large, enclosed sulcus hypotarsus. Hypotarsus Hypotarsus in Papasula, in proximal aspect, sulcus for musculus fibularis longus (fbl) shallow; canal for musculus flexor hallucis longus (fhl) open; canal for tendon of musculus flexor digitorum longus (fdl) with an open connection to sulcus for musculus flexor perforans et perforatus (fpp2) and to sulcus for musculus flexor perforatus (fp2). The above-mentioned numerals relate to the number of the trochleae metatarsorum supplied by the tendon. Interestingly, the configuration of the hypotarsus in Papasula is monosulcate; therefore, an apomorphy, as it is bisulcate in Sula and Morus. Hypotarsus in S. dactylatra and S. sula, in proximal aspect, sulcus for musculus fibularis longus (fbl) deeply excavated; canal for musculus flexor hallucis longus (fhl) and canal for tendon of musculus flexor digitorum longus (fdl) closed, the latter being extremely large; sulcus for musculus flexor perforans et perforatus (fpp2) and sulcus for musculus flexor perforatus (fp2) connected and deeply excavated. Hypotarsus in M. bassanus, in proximal aspect, sulcus for musculus fibularis longus (fbl) shallow; canal for musculus flexor hallucis longus (fhl) and canal for tendon of musculus flexor digitorum longus (fdl) closed, the latter being small; sulcus for musculus flexor perforans et perforatus (fpp2) and sulcus for musculus flexor perforatus (fp2) connected, but extremely shallow., Published as part of Hume, Julian P., 2023, A new fossil subspecies of booby (Aves, Sulidae: Papasula) from Mauritius and Rodrigues, Mascarene Islands, with notes on P. abbotti from Assumption Island, pp. 507-536 in Zootaxa 5270 (3) on pages 510-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/7863382, {"references":["Olson, S. L. & Warheit, K. L. (1988) A new genus for Sula abbotti. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, 108, 9 - 12.","Steadman, D. W., Schubel, S. E. & Pahlavan, D. (1988) A new subspecies and new records of Papasula abbotti (Aves: Sulidae) from archaeological sites in the tropical Pacific. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 101, 487 - 495.","van Tets, G. F., Meredith, C. W., Fullagar, P. J. & Davidson, P. M. (1988) Osteological differences between Sula and Morus, and a description of an extinct new species of Sula from Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, Tasman Sea. Notornis, 35, 35 - 57.","Lesson, R. P. (1831) Traitei d'ornithologie. Livre 8. F. G. Levrault, Paris, 659 pp.","Linnaeus, C. (1766) Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Vol. 1. 12 th Edition. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm. [unknown pagination] https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 68927","Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Vol. 1. 12 th Edition. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm. [unknown pagination]"]}

†Mascarene Booby Papasula abbotti nelsoni ssp. nov. Sula piscator Milne-Edwards, 1873, p.22, pl. 11, figs. 5, 5a, 5b, 5c. Sula capensis Milne-Edwards, 1875, p.8. Gannet E. Newton & Gadow, 1893, p.282. Sula abbotti Nelson, 1974, p.368; Bourne, 1976, p.119; Cheke, 1987, p.31. Sula (Papasula) abbotti Cheke, 2001, p.73. Papasula abbotti, Cheke & Hume, 2008, p.47; Hume, 2013, p.216. Papasula sp., Hume, 2017, p.84. Holotype: Left humerus UMZC 262.AA (Figs. 4b, 5b) Measurements: (see Table 2). Type Locality: Mare aux Songes, southeast Mauritius (20826051, 200 S; 57841023, 500 E) Distribution: Mauritius and Rodrigues, Mascarene Islands. Etymology: Named after British ornithologist Joseph Bryan Nelson (14 March 1932 – 29 June 2015), who first recognised the presence of a Papasula booby on the Mascarenes, and whose ground-breaking studies on sulids and especially Papasula abbotti are still relevant today. Paratype: Left ulna UMZC 262.AA (almost certainly associated with Holotype), Mare aux Songes, southeast Mauritius (Figs. 6c, 6f). Referred fossil material: All collected from unspecified caves on the Plaine Corail, Rodrigues: coracoid NHMUK PV A9076 (Ld) (Fig. 2); cranial fragment of sternum NHMUK PV A9076 (Fig. 3); humerus (Lp) NHMUK PV A9049 (Figs. 4a, 5a); ulna MNHN 6574 (Rd); NHMUK PV A9076 (Rd) (Fig. 6); tarsometatarsus UMZC 995 (R) (Figs. 7b, 7c). Diagnosis: As for genus. Chronology: No dates are available from bird remains from the 19th century Mare aux Songes (MAS) collections (Basin 0), but 14C dates exist for MAS fossil remains of endemic giant tortoises Cylindraspis ssp., which became extinct c.1730, that were excavated from the same horizon as the Mascarene booby elements (Hume et al. 2021). The dates range from ca. 1260 to 1830 YBP (Burleigh & Arnold 1986). On Rodrigues, a partial humerus of the endemic owl Otus murivorus (Milne-Edwards, 1873), collected from 60–75 cm below surface in Caverne Dora on the Plain Corail, produced a radiocarbon age of 2850 ± 30 with a calibrated age range of 3060–2870 YBP (Burney et al. 2015). This suggests very low sedimentation rates in the late Holocene (Hume 2013; Burney et al. 2015). Although the precise cave from which P. a. nelsoni was collected is unknown, many of the caves on the Plaine Corail have depositional environments similar to that of Caverne Dora (Hume 2005, 2013). Description and comparison: Papasula a. nelsoni ssp. nov. differs from Papasula a. abbotti in being larger in all known elements (Appendix 1, Tables 1-4) and by the following diagnostic characters: Coracoid (Fig. 2b; table 1). In mediodorsal view, the proximal end is missing the tuberculum brachiale and facies articularis clavicularis, and sternally is missing the processus lateralis from the lateral point of labrum internum to margo caudolateralis on distal end. Nevertheless, it differs from P. a. abbotti on the dorsal surface by, impressio lig. acrocoracohumeralis broader and deeper; process on labrum externum larger, more prominent, with extension to distal corner of angulus lateralis more deeply excavated; in ventral aspect, facies articularis sternalis deeper, extending further laterad; in lateral aspect, facies articularis humeralis larger and wider extending further proximally. Sternum (Fig. 3; table 1). Only a small cranial fragment is preserved that includes two pairs of cranial foramina pneumatici and a single row (right side) of foramina pneumatici that follow the sulcus medianus sterni; it is missing the entire carina sterni and posterior part to processus craniolateralis including all processus costales. Differs from P. a. abbotti by, in dorsal aspect, tuberculum labri externa with more pronounced ridge on lateral edge; in lateral aspect, labrum interna and tuberculum labri externa larger, with sulcus articularis coracoideus deeper, creating a more pronounced undercutting of labrum interna; in ventral aspect, two cranial foramina pneumatici larger. Humerus (Figs. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b; table 2). Holotype (UMZC 262.AA), collected on Mauritius, is complete with no erosional damage, whereas the Rodrigues specimen (NHMUK PV A9049) lacks around 66% of the distal end and much of the crista deltopectoralis. Differs from Papasula a. abbotti by, on caudal surface, tuberculum dorsale larger, more oval, and more rugose on distal surface; tuberculum ventrale larger and more robust, projecting more caudad and extending further mediocaudad; caput humeri more bulbous; incisura capitis more deeply excavated; margo caudalis more clearly defined proximally where it connects laterad to base of tuberculum ventrale; crus ventrale fossa more prominent proximally, especially at base of tuberculum ventrale; crista bicipitalis more convex without rightangled connection to shaft distally; fossa pneumotricipitalis larger, more deeply excavated with medial foramen pneumaticum much larger; sulcus humerotricipitalis more deeply incised, terminating in a sharp angle proximally; sulcus scapulotricipitalis more deeply incised, extending further proximally well beyond proximal level of sulcus humerotricipitalis; processus flexorius blunt, rounded distally, not angular; on cranial surface, sulcus lig. transversus deeply excavated medially, shallower laterally; crista bicipitalis more bulbous, without small distal crista; fossa m. brachialis more excavated; fossa olecrani larger; processus flexorius smaller, directed less medially. Ulna (Figs. 6c, 6f; table 3). Paratype (UMZC 262.AA), collected on Mauritius with holotype, is complete with no erosional damage, whereas the Rodrigues specimen (NHMUK PV A9076)is missing around 85% of the proximal end. Differs from P. a. abbotti in being longer, overall more robust; shaft less straight, more curved craniocaudally; in dorsal aspect, distal end more expanded; proximal pneumatic foramen larger; in ventral aspect, impressio brachialis more deeply excavated proximally; papillae remigales ventralis more prominent; sulcus intercondylaris deeper; foramen pneumaticum situated above sulcus intercondylaris and undercutting condylus dorsalis larger; presence of second foramen pneumaticum situated proximally on tuberculum carpale (absent in P. a. abbotti); depressio radialis more deeply excavated; in cranial aspect, cotyla ventralis narrower, more pointed; pneumatic foramen between condylus ventralis ulnaris and tuberculum carpale larger. Tarsometatarsus (Figs. 7b, 7c; table 4). Specimen missing crista medialis hypotarsi and plantar surface of trochlea metatarsi II and IV. Differs from P. a. abbotti by, in dorsal aspect, sulcus extensorius deeper proximally; incisura intertrochlearis lateralis and incisura intertrochlearis medialis slightly wider; tuberositas m. tibialis cranialis more marked, extending beyond proximal tip of lateral foramina vascularia proximalia; in plantar aspect, crista plantares lateralis more pronounced and lacking small foramen pneumaticum distal to crista lateralis hypotarsi; foramen vasculare distale much larger; wider and deeper sulcus on trochlea metatarsi III;medial surface of trochlea metatarsi IV more excavated, creating a pronounced crista extending proximal to crista plantares medialis; on proximal end, larger, otherwise similar to P. a. abbotti. The specimen figured (Fig. 8) in Milne-Edwards (1873) is the same specimen, but since that drawing’s execution, further damaged has occurred. For example, the crista medialis hypotarsi is now missing. Differs from P. a. costelloi by, in dorsal aspect, trochlea metatarsi II extends less distally; trochlea metatarsi III with shallower sulcus on dorsal surface; foramen vasculare distale smaller and situated more proximad; in plantar aspect, crista plantares lateralis more pronounced; foramen vasculare distale larger; fossa supratrochlearis more deeply excavated, especially where it connects to foramen vasculare distale medially. Hypotarsus Larger, otherwise similar to P. a. abbotti., Published as part of Hume, Julian P., 2023, A new fossil subspecies of booby (Aves, Sulidae: Papasula) from Mauritius and Rodrigues, Mascarene Islands, with notes on P. abbotti from Assumption Island, pp. 507-536 in Zootaxa 5270 (3) on pages 518-521, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/7863382, {"references":["Milne-Edwards, A. (1873) Recherches sur la faune ornithologique ancienne des i les Mascareignes. Annales des Science Naturelles - Zoologie et Paleontologie, S 5, 19 (3), 1 - 31.","Milne-Edwards, A. (1875) Nouveaux documents sur l'epoque de la disparition de la faune ancienne de l'le Rodrigue. Annals des Sciences Naturelles - Zoologie et Paleontologie, S 6 (2), 1 - 20.","Newton, E. & Gadow, H. (1893) On additional bones of the Dodo and other extinct birds of Mauritius obtained by Mr Theodore Sauzier. Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 13, 281 - 302. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1469 - 7998.1893. tb 00001. x","Nelson, J. B. (1974) The distribution of Abbott's booby Sula abbotti. Ibis, 116, 368 - 369. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1474 - 919 X. 1974. tb 00134. x","Bourne, W. R. P. (1976) On subfossil bones of Abbott's booby Sula abbotti from the Mascarene Islands, with a note on the proportions and distribution of the Sulidae. Ibis, 118, 119 - 123. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1474 - 919 X. 1976. tb 02018. x","Cheke, A. S. (1987) An ecological history of the Mascarene Islands, with particular reference to extinctions and introductions of land vertebrates. In: Diamond, A. W. (Ed.), Studies of Mascarene Island Birds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 5 - 89. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / CBO 9780511735769.003","Cheke, A. S. (2001) Booby Sula colonies in the Mascarene area (Indian Ocean): extinctions, myths and colour morphs. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, 121, 71 - 80.","Cheke, A. S. & Hume, J. P. (2008) Lost Land of the Dodo: an Ecological History of Mauritius, Reunion & Rodrigues. T. & A. D. Poyser, London, 464 pp. [Reprinted 2011, ISBN 978 - 0 - 7136 - 6544 - 4]","Hume, J. P. (2013) A synopsis of the pre-human avifauna of the Mascarene Islands. In: Gohlich, U. B. & Kroh, A. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 8 th International Meeting of the Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution. Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien, pp. 195 - 237.","Hume, J. P. (2017) Extinct Birds. 2 nd Edition. Helm, London, 608 pp.","Hume, J. P., Griffiths, O., Andre, A. A., Meunier, A. & Bour, R. (2021) Discovery of the first Mascarene giant tortoise nesting site on Rodrigues Island, Indian Ocean (Testudinidae: Cylindraspis). Herpetology Notes, 14, 103 - 116.","Burleigh, R. & Arnold, E. N. (1986) Age and dietary differences of recently extinct Indian Ocean tortoises (Geochelone s. lat.) revealed by carbon isotope analysis. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London B, 227, 137 - 144. https: // doi. org / 10.1098 / rspb. 1986.0014","Burney, D. A., Hume, J. P., Middleton, G. J., Steel, L., Burney, L. P. & Porch, N. (2015) Stratigraphy and chronology of karst features on Rodrigues Island, Southwestern Indian Ocean. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, 77 (1), 37 - 51. https: // doi. org / 10.4311 / 2013 PA 0132","Hume, J. P. (2005) Contrasting taphofacies in ocean island settings: the fossil record of Mascarene vertebrates. Monografies de la Societat d'Historia Natural de les Balears, 12, 129 - 144."]}

†Hiva Oa Booby Papasula abbotti costelloi Steadman et al., 1988 Papasula abbotti costelloi Steadman, Schubel & Pahlavan, 1988, p.490. Holotype: Left tibiotarsus BPBM 167105 u/s Measurements: See Steadman et al. 1988. Type Locality: Hanamiai Site, Tahuata, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific. Distribution: Tahuata and Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific., Published as part of Hume, Julian P., 2023, A new fossil subspecies of booby (Aves, Sulidae: Papasula) from Mauritius and Rodrigues, Mascarene Islands, with notes on P. abbotti from Assumption Island, pp. 507-536 in Zootaxa 5270 (3) on page 518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/7863382, {"references":["Steadman, D. W., Schubel, S. E. & Pahlavan, D. (1988) A new subspecies and new records of Papasula abbotti (Aves: Sulidae) from archaeological sites in the tropical Pacific. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 101, 487 - 495."]}

The current study analyses and presents the results of the ten-year establishment phase of the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) local re-introduction in Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, north-western Bulgaria. Between 2010 and 2020, 61 rehabilitated and captive-bred Griffon Vultures from Spain, France and several European zoos were released from an acclimatisation aviary. The first successful breeding in the wild was reported in 2015. Thus, the species has been restored as a nesting species in the area after more than 60 years of absence. In 2020, the local population accounted for some 55–70 individuals, consisting of about 20–23 breeding pairs in three-five separate colonies and two frequently-used roosting sites. Forty-two chicks fledged from 2010 to 2020, at an average breeding success of 0.46 chicks/territorial pair and productivity of 0.62 fledglings/breeding pair. The mortality rate is calculated at 0.34; an additional 0.07 of the released individuals have never been seen or found. The local nucleus of the Griffon Vulture now covers a territory of 1,478.58 km², calculated as a 95% home range, while the 50% core area is 9.07 ± 5.73 km2 (range 2.12–22.89 km2). With these results, we consider the establishment phase of the re-introduction of the species in Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park as completed.

The egg parasitoid Centrodora italica Ferrière is reported for the first time from sentinel eggs of two species of Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera), Pachytrachis gracilis (Brunner von Wattenwyl) and Eupholidoptera schmidti (Fieber). In Italy, only two hosts of this parasitic wasp are known, one of which is a tettigoniid species. Exposure of sentinel eggs represented a useful method to detect new host associations of this parasitoid species that can search for their host’s eggs in the ground. The parasitoids were identified by comparing our specimens with those of the type series, and the original description of C. italica.

The Maguari Stork (Ciconia maguari) is one of the three species of the family Ciconiidae that occur in South America. Despite abundant in landscapes dominated by wetlands and grasslands, detailed studies on its biology are scarce. This study is aimed at investigating aspects of the breeding of Maguari Storks in Brazil. Photographic records were searched in the WikiAves database. A total of 65 records, obtained by citizens along 13 years in 32 municipalities, showed evidences of breeding activities in Brazil. Most (86%) of these records were gathered in the Pampa biome, in southern Brazil. Nests were large platforms and contained 1-3 young. Nests built on the ground were in grasslands or reed patches. Those built on shrubs were at boundaries between lakes and grasslands, and were often in colonial nesting sites with egrets and herons. Incubation occurred between July and November, and nestlings were found between August and December. Juveniles able to fly were recorded between late October and February. Most records of breeding activities were obtained at sites located < 300 m above sea level. As the Maguari Stork is a conspicuous and charismatic species, its conservation could substantially benefit from the awareness of landowners to promote eco-tourism in their properties, attracting birdwatchers. For this, it should be ensured the integrity of grasslands, marshes, and lakes with microhabitats often used for nesting (woody plants and reed patches).

The elusive and Critically Endangered silvery pigeon Columba argentina is only found on small offshore islands in western Indonesia and Malaysia. Historically, trade records have suggested that, in addition to habitat degradation and invasive predators, commercial exploitation could be a threat to the species. The current study confirms this to be the case, with a relatively high volume of silvery pigeons found offered for sale on social media platforms in Indonesia between October and December 2021. The trade numbers (at least 10 individuals) observed within this short period exceeded 20% of the global silvery pigeon population according to the latest Red List assessment, suggesting that actual population numbers may be larger than previously thought but also confirming that trade poses a considerable threat. Some of the recorded posts were in new areas within the species’ presumed range, further suggesting that the population may be slightly larger than hitherto assessed. The reported trade observations are reason for grave concern, particularly given the potential interest of international collectors which could further drive demand and increase prices. Due to the locations of the observed online trade we recommend timely field surveys to confirm the species’ presence and current status, particularly in the Riau-Lingga island group, as well as the development of a species conservation action plan to catalyse local and regional efforts to tackle the current illegal trade and work towards the regulation of international trade.

Three new species of chewing lice of the Penenirmus-complex (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) are described and illustrated from woodpeckers (Picidae) and barbets (Megalaimidae) occurring in China. They are: Picophilopterus blythipici new species from Blythipicus pyrrhotis sinensis (Rickett, 1897), Laimoloima ruiliensis new genus, new species from Psilopogon asiaticus asiaticus (Latham, 1790), and Laimoloima tandani new genus, new species from Psilopogon virens virens (Boddaert, 1783). In addition, we provide illustrations of Picophilopterus pici sensu lato ex Picus canus sordidior (Rippon, 1906), and we present evidence that justifies resurrecting the genus Picophilopterus Ansari, 1947 to include the species infesting woodpeckers and Neotropical barbets (Capitonidae). Also, we erect the new genus Laimoloima to include the species from Asian barbets (Megalaimidae). The taxonomic position of Penenirmus species from African barbets (Lybiidae) and honeyguides (Indicatoridae) is unresolved. An updated checklist of the species in the Penenirmus-complex parasitic on non-passeriform hosts is provided, including species of the genus Turnicola Clay & Meinertzhagen, 1938.

Genus Taubatornis Olson & Alvarenga, 2002 Taubatornis Olson & Alvarenga, 2002 [December 30], Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., vol. 115, n. 4, p. 702. type, by monotypy, Taubatornis campbelli Olson & Alvarenga Taubatornis campbelli Olson & Alvarenga, 2002 Taubatornis campbelli Olson & Alvarenga, 2002 [December 30], Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., vol. 115, n. 4, p. 702. [Santa Fé Farm near Tremembé, S„o Paulo, Brazil. Late Oligocene or Early Miocene]

Suárez, William, Emslie, Steven D. (2023): On thecorrect publication date for theextinct avian familyTeratornithidaeL. Miller. Zootaxa 5227 (1): 143-146, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5227.1.8

Genus Argentavis Campbell & Tonni, 1980 Argentavis Campbell & Tonni, 1980 [September 15], Contrib. Sci. Nat. Hist. Mus. Los Angeles County, n. 330, p. 60. type, by monotypy, Argentavis magnificens Campbell & Tonni. Argentavis magnificens Campbell & Tonni, 1980 Argentavis magnificens Campbell & Tonni, 1980 [September 15], Contrib. Sci. Nat. Hist. Mus. Los Angeles County, n. 330, p. 60. [Salinas Gandes de Hidalgo, Atreucó, La Pampa, Argentina. Late Miocene], Published as part of Suárez, William & Emslie, Steven D., 2023, On thecorrect publication date for theextinct avian familyTeratornithidaeL. Miller, pp. 143-146 in Zootaxa 5227 (1) on page 145, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5227.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/7518492, {"references":["Campbell Jr., K. E. & Tonni, E. P. (1980) A new genus of teratorn from the Hayquerian of Argentina. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Contributions in Science, 330, 59 - 68. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / p. 208145"]}

The Black-throated Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus chinensis) is a bird belonging to the order Passeriformes and the family Leiothrichidae, and is found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Pterorhinus chinensis was once classified as belonging to the genus Garrulax. However, recent research has reclassified it in the genus Pterorhinus. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitogenome of P. chinensis. The complete mitochondrial genome of P. chinensis is 17,827 bp in length. It consists of 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two control regions. All genes are coded on the H-strand, except for one PCG (nad6) and eight tRNAs. All PCGs are initiated with ATG and stopped by five types of stop codons. Our comparative analyses show irregular gene rearrangement between trnT and trnP genes with another similar control region emerging between trnE and trnF genes compared with the ancestral mitochondrial gene order, called "duplicate CR gene order". The phylogenetic position of P. chinensis and phylogenetic relationships among members of Leiothrichidae are assessed based on complete mitogenomes. Phylogenetic relationships based on Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods showed that Garrulax and (Pterorhinus + Ianthocincla) formed a clade. Leiothrix and Liocichla also formed a clade. Our study provides support for the transfer of P. chinensis from Garrulax to Pterorhinus. Our results provide mitochondrial genome data to further understand the mitochondrial genome characteristics and taxonomic status of Leiothrichidae.

Long-term monitoring is needed to understand the statuses and trends of wildlife communities in montane forests, such as those in Yushan National Park (YSNP), Taiwan. Integrating passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) with an automated sound identifier, a long-term biodiversity monitoring project containing six PAM stations, was launched in YSNP in January 2020 and is currently ongoing. SILIC, an automated wildlife sound identification model, was used to extract sounds and species information from the recordings collected. Animal vocal activity can reflect their breeding status, behaviour, population, movement and distribution, which may be affected by factors, such as habitat loss, climate change and human activity. This massive amount of wildlife vocalisation dataset can provide essential information for the National Park's headquarters on resource management and decision-making. It can also be valuable for those studying the effects of climate change on animal distribution and behaviour at a regional or global scale. To our best knowledge, this is the first open-access dataset with species occurrence data extracted from sounds in soundscape recordings by artificial intelligence. We obtained seven bird species for the first release, with more bird species and other taxa, such as mammals and frogs, to be updated annually. Raw recordings containing over 1.7 million one-minute recordings collected between the years 2020 and 2021 were analysed and SILIC identified 6,243,820 vocalisations of seven bird species in 439,275 recordings. The automatic detection had a precision of 0.95 and the recall ranged from 0.48 to 0.80. In terms of the balance between precision and recall, we prioritised increasing precision over recall in order to minimise false positive detections. In this dataset, we summarised the count of vocalisations detected per sound class per recording which resulted in 802,670 occurrence records. Unlike data from traditional human observation methods, the number of observations in the Darwin Core "organismQuantity" column refers to the number of vocalisations detected for a specific bird species and cannot be directly linked to the number of individuals. We expect our dataset will be able to help fill the data gaps of fine-scale avian temporal activity patterns in montane forests and contribute to studies concerning the impacts of climate change on montane forest ecosystems on regional or global scales.

The current work presents the preliminary results of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) releases in the Balkan Mountains in 2018–2022, aiming at the species re-introduction in Bulgaria, where it was listed as locally extinct since 1985. The first imports and releases of Cinereous Vultures in Bulgaria started in 2018. Until mid-2022, 72 individuals were released in the Eastern Balkan Mountains (Kotlenska Planina SPA and Sinite Kamani Nature Park) and Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park. Of them, 63 immatures imported from Spain were released from aviaries and nine juveniles captive-bred in European zoos were released by hacking (fledging from an artificial nest). We compared the success in survival and establishment between the different release sites and methods used to adjust the ongoing technics and tactics and to support knowledge improvement for future similar projects. From the nine Cinereous Vultures released by hacking, the results were as follows: 1.00 fledging success, but only 0.22 survival in the first six months – combined period of acclimation, first migration and the first winter. All survivors from that period reached maturity into the wild, but all emigrated from the release site and settled elsewhere. Of the 63 individuals released by aviaries, 32 individuals were released in the Eastern Balkan Mountains (18 individuals are still alive – 0.56 survival; 14 individuals settled in the area, which accounts for 0.44 of all released birds and 0.78 of the survivors). Thirty-one individuals were released in Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park (23 individuals are still alive – 0.74 survival; 22 individuals settled in the area – 0.71 of all released birds and 0.96 of the survivors). Based only on aviary method comparison, the settling of the individuals in the release area was alike in the two sites. However, the Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park performed better in survival – both in acclimation and establishment periods. While comparing the release methods – hacking and release from the aviary – the following results were observed: the survival rate during acclimation was 0.86. Due to more considerable losses during the first migration and dispersal in the individuals released by hacking, the survival rate of 0.22 was significantly lower compared to 0.73 for the birds released from the aviary. Additionally, in both methods, a similar pattern in the first winter and spring migration dispersal was observed. Although the survival was equal in the released-by-hacking or aviary birds after the first year onwards, it is essential to note that the emigration of the hacked birds from the release site was 1.00. In comparison, the birds released from aviaries largely remained and settled in the release area (> 0.77 of the survivors). The cost of release and related acclimation, settling, dispersal and the first winter was the greatest: 0.12–0.17 per period, or cumulatively, it was about 0.27. Survival increased and stabilised to > 0.90 after the first year in the wild and reached nearly 1.00 after two years in the wild onwards. Two distinct nuclei of the Cinereous Vulture were established along the Balkan Mountains – the Eastern Balkan Mountains with 18–23 individuals and four formed pairs using a territory of about 642.74 km2 – 95% home range and 85.72 km2 – 50% core area with center being the town of Kotel; and Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park with present 23–29 individuals, of which 2–3 pairs formed so far, using a territory of about 1,143.66 km2 – 95% home range and 22.89 km2 – 50% core area with center being the village of Zgorigrad. The species readily accepted breeding in artificial nest platforms built by professional arborists on different tree species – oak, beech, sycamore and pine. The only naturally built nests were on the ground (n = 2) (unsuccessful) and in Scots Pine (n = 1) (successful). In 2021 and 2022, in each of the two sites, the first successful reproductions were recorded, which marked the return of the Cinereous Vulture as breeding species – 28 years after the last occasional record of a single breeding pair in the country and 36 years after it was officially listed as locally extinct in Bulgaria.

The globally endangered saker falcon (Falco cherrug) is currently being re-introduced in Bulgaria, where the falcons are bred in captivity and released through the hacking method. We relied on the birds' pedigree when forming the breeding pairs from 2011. In 2021-2022, we had the opportunity to evaluate our captive population via DNA tests. We performed the first genetic assessment of the sakers in the WRBC through a genome evaluation of the most important founders (n = 12) and, in 2022, we executed a microsatellite analysis on 30 saker falcons from the programme. We compared the results with the known pedigree and history of the saker falcons. The genetic tests helped to assign relatedness to some birds with missing or incomplete pedigrees, indicating the test can complement that information and lead to better management of the captive group. One pair was separated as a precaution as it was indicated by one the tests that the two birds are more closely related than expected. The research could be beneficial to other raptor captive breeding programmes dealing with a similar group composition.

Background Prior research has shown that the European peninsulas were the main sources of Strix aluco colonisation of Northern Europe during the late glacial period. However, the phylogenetic relationship and the divergence time between S. aluco from Leigong Mountain Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China and the Strigiformes from overseas remains unclear. The mitochondrial genome structure of birds is a covalent double-chain loop structure that is highly conserved and, thus, suitable for phylogenetic analysis. This study examined the phylogenetic relationship and divergence time of Strix using the whole mitochondrial genome of S. aluco. New information In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Strix aluco, with a total length of 18,632 bp, is reported for the first time. A total of 37 genes were found, including 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes and two non-coding control regions. Certain species of Tytoninae were used as out-group and PhyloSuite software was applied to build the ML-tree and BI-tree of Strigiformes. Finally, the divergence time tree was constructed using BEAST 2.6.7 software and the age of Miosurnia diurna fossil-bearing sediments (6.0–9.5 Ma) was set as internal correction point. The common ancestor of Strix was confirmed to have diverged during the Pleistocene (2.58–0.01 Ma). The combined action of the dramatic uplift of the Qinling Mountains in the Middle Pleistocene and the climate oscillation of the Pleistocene caused Strix divergence between the northern and southern parts of mainland China. The isolation of glacial-interglacial rotation and glacier refuge was the main reason for the divergence of Strix uralensis and S. aluco from their common ancestor during this period. This study provides a reference for the evolutionary history of S. aluco.

The Bahamas provides a wide range of crucial coastal habitats to many declining resident and migratory birds. Amongst these species is the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), whose breeding populations are all listed as federally threatened or endangered in the United States and Canada. This species winters in the southern U.S. and the Caribbean, including The Bahamas, spending most of the year on the wintering grounds. Nonetheless, prior to the census data presented here, reports of Piping Plovers from The Bahamas were few and incidental. Therefore, repeated surveys are essential to increase understanding of the distribution, abundance and movement patterns of Piping Plovers and other shorebirds in the Bahamian territory. This dataset provides information on the abundance and distribution of the Piping Plover across multiple islands and much of the suitable habitat that exists in The Bahamas. It also provides some information on the variability of Piping Plover count data and presence of other shorebird species. Furthermore, these data may serve as baseline information on Piping Plover abundance and shorebird site occupancy by which to assess key candidate sites for protection and also future impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise and hurricanes. The National Audubon Society (NAS), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a multi-year shorebird census in The Bahamas. Surveys initiated by ECCC and many other collaborators were also part of a multi-year survival study. Censuses were conducted across 16 different islands between the years 2006 and 2020. These surveys were performed with the cooperation of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), volunteer biologists and scientists from the United States and Canada. Biologists working with NAS, ECCC and USGS used satellite imagery, historical records and local knowledge from Bahamian residents to identify sites with suitable habitat for Piping Plovers. Experienced researchers visited each site during winter (November-February), identified and counted Piping Plovers and, when possible, other bird species in each of the sampled locations. In total, the resulting database holds 2,684 observations of 62 bird species, of which 77% belong to 24 shorebird species. Approximately 30% of all presence records belong to the Piping Plover. It is important to emphasise that the counts reported in this dataset represent minimum estimates of local shorebird assemblages. Since abundance and distribution of birds vary with changing conditions, representative estimates are best achieved via repeated surveys that reflect a range of conditions including timing (day, year, month), weather (wind direction and speed, precipitation), tide state etc.

Alpha taxonomy endeavours to propose a coherent vision of existing species and, simultaneously, to individualize the natural entities useful to understand evolutionary processes. This ideal is especially difficult when available data lack congruence. Here we address the polytypic species Synallaxis rutilans (ruddy spinetail), a suboscine passerine widely distributed in the Amazon Basin and whose taxonomy could, potentially, aid our understanding of processes shaping its biodiversity. Combining genetic [genomic ultraconserved elements (UCE) and mtDNA] and morphological data, we demonstrate that while delimitation of genetic lineages and their phylogenetic relationships are strongly associated with classic Amazonian geographic barriers, such as rivers, different coloration patterns appear to be more associated with local selection processes for phenotype. Employing an evolutionary approach, whereby the species is considered a taxonomic category, rather than a nomenclatural rank, we propose to recognize five species: S. amazonica, S. caquetensis, S. dissors, S. omissa and S. rutilans. The taxonomic arrangement proposed here permits better understanding of the similarities and differences among taxa from different areas of endemism, and represents patterns of genetic and morphological diversity resulting from distinct processes acting across certain time frames. This arrangement draws attention to the importance of understanding the evolutionary processes operating in the complex and constantly changing Amazonian landscape.

The genus Willisornis is endemic to the Amazon Basin, inhabiting upland terra firme forest, with two species and seven subspecies currently recognized. Despite numerous systematic studies, a taxonomically-dense sampled phylogeny for Willisornis is still lacking, which, combined with evidence of paraphyly and gene flow between its recognized species, underscores the uncertainty concerning species limits and evolutionary history of the genus. Here we present phylogenies and population genetic analyses, including all currently recognized Willisornis taxa, relating them to patterns of plumage variation, and reconstructing the spatiotemporal context of diversification in the genus. Our analyses have uncovered 13 independent genetic lineages in the genus, and the monophyly of all currently named taxa, which also showed robust plumage diagnoses. However, deeply coalesced genetic lineages were also found within most Willisornis taxa, for which no consistent variation in plumage was found. The diversification of the genus Willisornis is related to hydrographic and climate change cycles across Amazonia since the Plio-Pleistocene, with most genetic lineages originating in the past one million years. Based on our findings, we recommend the recognition of a total of six species in Willisornis (one of which polytypic) based on the congruency between deeply coalesced lineages and consistent plumage diagnoses.

Oreocharis qianyuensis, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Southwest, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Phylotranscriptomic analyses of the new species in the context of a comprehensive phylogeny with dense sampling of 88% (111/126) of all species of the genus indicated that the new species was most closely-related to O. fargesii. The new species is morphologically similar to O. fargesii and O. nanchuanica in the shape, color and structure of flowers and the number of stamens, but differs in the leaf blade shape, margin and the indumentum characters of the inflorescence. Its morphological relationship with similar species is discussed, the detailed descriptions, colour photographs, distribution, as well as the IUCN threatened status based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria are also provided.

As a result of numerous fossil and subfossil finds of ostriches, there is great demand for a comprehensive osteometric dataset for the living species and subspecies of the genus Struthio. We meet this demand by providing a set of > 100 measurements for a sample of 18 sexed skeletons, including all living and recently extinct species and subspecies of ostriches. We provide the first mensural data for two extinct subspecies, the hitherto questioned Struthio camelus spatzi from north-western Africa and the Arabian ostrich, Struthio camelus syriacus. The unique skeletal proportions of S. c. spatzi, with a relatively short wing, broad pelvis, short tarsometatarsus and big third toe, confirm the validity of this taxon and suggest an increased stability at the expense of cursoriality, which might have contributed to its extermination by humans. Our biometric analysis of the entire sample suggests a subtle sexual dimorphism in the ostrich skeleton, with females having more robust limb bones (especially wider and/or deeper at the ends) despite being on average smaller than males. If confirmed by further research, this size-independent dimorphism might reflect the independent regulation of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of bones as revealed by several independent studies of morphological integration (covariance among morphological traits) in the avian skeleton.

LEPTOCOMA TAXONOMY The movement of species between the genera Cinnyris, Leptocoma and Nectarinia has previously caused confusion for taxonomists working with the black sunbird (LeCroy, 2010). Our analyses suggest that the Leptocoma genus is not monophyletic (Fig. 2). However, the genus-level branches in our tree had lower support than the species- and subspecies-level branches due to our use of mtDNA. We strongly recommend further sequencing of all species within Leptocoma to clarify the genus taxonomy. Previous research based on plumage differences has not proposed any splits or ‘limbo splits’ within the black sunbird (Eaton et al., 2021). Nonetheless, we found that the black sunbird exhibited genetic divergence consistent with a species-level split between Wallacea and the Sahul Shelf, with a high genetic distance between Sulawesi and PNG (9.1%). This presents a marked contrast to the ‘Sahul sunbird’, which exhibited minimal divergence between those same populations. Further sequencing of birds from intervening areas (such as the Maluku Islands) would help to clarify the boundaries between these potential species. As several intervening populations are absent from our analysis, we cannot rule out the possibility of clinal variation between the Sulawesi and PNG populations (Brumfield, 2005; Cros & Rheindt, 2017). However, the genetic divergence we found was so strong (mean p-distance of 9.1%, higher than any observed in the olive-backed sunbird complex) that it seems more likely the two populations represent two species. The patterns we have observed suggest a division along Lydekker’s Line, and so we predict that sampling of the intervening populations would show a Wallacean species occurring from Sulawesi to the Maluku Islands and a separate species on New Guinea. This would involve the elevation of one of the Wallacean subspecies names to species level, as Lesson & Garnot (1828) named the black sunbird initially for a specimen from Manokwari (Doréry) on the New Guinea mainland. The discovery of cryptic species in the black sunbird highlights the importance of comprehensive sampling of species across their range, even in the absence of obvious plumage differences. The structure within the black sunbird contrasted with the patterns shown by the olive-backed sunbird and ‘Sahul sunbird’ in several ways. The black sunbird exhibited a split between Sulawesi and PNG, where the ‘Sahul sunbird’ had a continuous population. The black sunbird also exhibited structure within both of these regions. Most taxonomic treatments (Cheke et al., 2001; Billerman et al., 2022) split the black sunbird into distinct subspecies in PNG’s Western Province (L. a. aspasia), Northern Province (L. a. vicina Mayr 1936) and the Bismarck Islands (L. a. corinna). However, Gill et al. (2022) merged L. a. vicina into L. a. aspasia, following Rand (1967). Our genetic work supports L. a. aspasia and L. a. vicina as distinct subspecies, whereas L. a. corinna appears to warrant species status based on ABGD. However, as this was based on a single sequence, we recommend that the Bismarck populations be examined further before a judgement is made. The Menui black sunbird population was genetically distinct from Sulawesi and the land-bridge islands, with a mean genetic distance (1.72%), a distance greater than that between the two subspecies in PNG (1.48%). This population was also found to be distinct in wing length, bill length, weight and tarsus length (MANOVA, P, Published as part of Marcaigh, Fionn Ó, Kelly, David J., O'Connell, Darren P., Analuddin, Kangkuso, Karya, Adi, Mccloughan, Jennifer, Tolan, Ellen, Lawless, Naomi, Marples, Nicola M., O, Darren P. & Connell, 2022, Small islands and large biogeographic barriers have driven contrasting speciation patterns in Indo-Pacific sunbirds (Aves: Nectariniidae), pp. 1-21 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society CLXVI (CLXVI) on pages 13-14, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac081, http://zenodo.org/record/7573837, {"references":["LeCroy M. 2010. Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History part 8. Passeriformes: Pachycephalidae, Aegithalidae, Remizidae, Paridae, Sittidae, Neosittidae, Certhiidae, Rhabdornithidae, Climacteridae, Dicaeidae, Pardalotidae, and Nectariniidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 333: 1 - 178.","Eaton JA, van Balen B, Brickle NW, Rheindt FE. 2021. Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea, 2 nd ed. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.","Brumfield RT. 2005. Mitochondrial variation in Bolivian populations of the variable antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens). The Auk 122: 414 - 432.","Cros E, Rheindt FE. 2017. Massive bioacoustic analysis suggests introgression across Pleistocene land bridges in Mixornis tit-babblers. Journal of Ornithology 158: 407 - 419.","Lesson RP, Garnot P. 1828. Cinnyris aspasia. In: Voyage autour du monde execute par order du Roi, sur la corvette de Sa Majeste, la Coquille, pendant les annees 1822, 1823, 1824 et 1825. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, Vol. I (p. 676) and Atlas (pl. 30).","Cheke RA, Mann CF, Allen R. 2001. Sunbirds: a guide to the sunbirds, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters and sugarbirds of the world. London: Christopher Helm.","Billerman SM, Keeney BK, Rodewald PG, Schulenberg TS. 2022. Birds of the world. Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.","Mayr E. 1936. New subspecies of birds from the New Guinea region. American Museum Novitates 869: 1 - 8.","Gill F, Donsker DB, Rasmussen PC. 2022. IOC World Bird List (version 12.1). https: // www. worldbirdnames. org /. Accessed 17 February 2022.","Rand AL. 1967. Family Nectariniidae. In: Paynter R Jr, ed. Check-list of birds of the world. Cambridge: Museum of Comparative Zoology, 208 - 289."]}

Marcaigh, Fionn Ó, Kelly, David J., O'Connell, Darren P., Analuddin, Kangkuso, Karya, Adi, Mccloughan, Jennifer, Tolan, Ellen, Lawless, Naomi, Marples, Nicola M., O, Darren P., Connell (2022): Small islands and large biogeographic barriers have driven contrasting speciation patterns in Indo-Pacific sunbirds (Aves: Nectariniidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society CLXVI (CLXVI): 1-21, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac081, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/advance-article/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac081/6759114

CINNYRIS TAXONOMY Our results indicate that the olive-backed sunbird represents a superspecies and should be split into at least four species (Supporting Information, Table S 10). We have found support for the three-way split suggested by Eaton etal. (2021) while also providing the first genetic, acoustic and morphological evidence that the ‘Wakatobi sunbird’ warrants recognition as a full species. The Wakatobi population exhibits a strikingly non-linear arrangement of population structure, with a range enveloped within that of the more widespread species, and had previously been suggested as a ‘limbo split’ (Rheindt, 2021) based on plumage differences alone (Eaton et al., 2021). Our study has supported these differences with matching patterns in mtDNA and integrative species delimitation or ‘Tobias scoring’ (Tobias et al., 2010). Due to the lower effective population size of mtDNA, along with other factors, differences in mtDNA should be integrated with other forms of evidence in this way (Rubinoff & Holland, 2005). In the light of this new integrative evidence, we recommend that the ‘Wakatobi sunbird Cinnyris infrenatus ’, originally named by Hartert (1903), be reinstated as a separate species. In addition to its genetic divergence (Fig. 3), the ‘Wakatobi sunbird’ has shorter wings, a shorter bill and longer tarsi than the ‘Sahul sunbird’ (Supporting Information, Fig. S 9), as well as exhibiting slower and higher pitched calls over a smaller bandwidth (Supporting Information, Fig. S 11). This study is one of several to have remarked upon the distinctness of the Wakatobi avifauna (Kelly et al., 2014; O’Connell et al., 2019a, c), and so we reiterate the recommendation of O’Connell et al. (2020) that the Wakatobi Islands should be protected as an Endemic Bird Area (Stattersfield et al., 1998). In addition to the distinctive nature of the Wakatobi lineage, our work supports the splits suggested by Eaton et al. (2021) and one possible additional split in the Philippines (Fig. 5). Under the Eaton et al. (2021) treatment, populations from Sulawesi to the Sahul Shelf and the Solomon Islands were recognized as a species-level taxon, the ‘Sahul sunbird Cinnyris clementiae ’, the Sunda Shelf populations become ‘ornate sunbird Cinnyris ornatus ’ and the Philippine birds retain the Cinnyris jugularis name and take ‘garden sunbird’ as a common name. This is supported by deep genetic divergences (all greater than 5%) between these three putative species, with the Sahul Shelf represented by our new Sulawesi, Australian and PNG sequences along with Solomon Islands birds from Smith & Filardi (2007), the Sunda Shelf by a sequence from Borneo (Boyce et al., 2019) and the Philippines by a number of previously published partial sequences (Supporting Information, Table S 3). Although this split has been suggested previously based on limited sampling and incomplete sequences, our more comprehensive sampling of full sequences, taken from both ends of the new ‘Sahul sunbird’ species range, offers stronger support for the division. Our study has also suggested another potential split in this species complex (Fig. 5), outside the geographic range covered in detail by Eaton et al. (2021). ABGD considered the aurora sequences from Busuanga in the western Philippines to represent a distinct species, with a mean genetic distance of 4.5%, from the greater Philippine archipelago (subspecies obscurior and jugularis). Ornithologists (Rand, 1951; Billerman et al., 2022) have grouped the aurora subspecies separately from these other Philippine subspecies due to its orange breast plumage. The western chain of islands on which the aurora subspecies occurs is geologically and biogeographically distinct from the greater Philippine archipelago (Diamond & Gilpin, 1983). The aurora subspecies displayed a similar level of genetic divergence to that of the more thoroughly sampled ‘Wakatobi sunbird’, but was represented in our analysis by two partial ND2 sequences from Campbell (2013), and so we recommend further sampling of this population. The lack of divergence between the Menui population and the wider south-east Sulawesi population in the ‘Sahul sunbird’ confirms that the Menui population belongs to the plateni subspecies. On the Sahul Shelf itself, our ‘Sahul sunbirds’ exhibit a uniform population across PNG and Australia. This is in keeping with the current assignment of these populations to one subspecies, Cinnyris jugularis frenatus., Published as part of Marcaigh, Fionn Ó, Kelly, David J., O'Connell, Darren P., Analuddin, Kangkuso, Karya, Adi, Mccloughan, Jennifer, Tolan, Ellen, Lawless, Naomi, Marples, Nicola M., O, Darren P. & Connell, 2022, Small islands and large biogeographic barriers have driven contrasting speciation patterns in Indo-Pacific sunbirds (Aves: Nectariniidae), pp. 1-21 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society CLXVI (CLXVI) on page 13, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac081, http://zenodo.org/record/7573837, {"references":["Rheindt FE. 2021. Taxonomy and systematics. In: Eaton JA, Van Balen B, Brickle NW, Rheindt FE, eds. Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea - 2 nd ed. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.","Eaton JA, van Balen B, Brickle NW, Rheindt FE. 2021. Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago: Greater Sundas and Wallacea, 2 nd ed. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.","Tobias JA, Seddon N, Spottiswoode CN, Pilgrim JD, Fishpool LDC, Collar NJ. 2010. Quantitative criteria for species delimitation. Ibis 152: 724 - 746.","Rubinoff D, Holland BS. 2005. Between two extremes: mitochondrial DNA is neither the panacea nor the nemesis of phylogenetic and taxonomic inference. Systematic Biology 54: 952 - 961.","Hartert E. 1903. On the birds collected on the Tukang-Besi islands and Buton, south-east of Celebes, by Mr Heinrich Kuhn. Novitates Zoologicae 10: 18 - 38.","Kelly SBA, Kelly DJ, Cooper N, Bahrun A, Analuddin K, Marples NM. 2014. Molecular and phenotypic data support the recognition of the Wakatobi flowerpecker (Dicaeum kuehni) from the unique and understudied Sulawesi region. PLoS One 9: e 98694.","O'Connell DP, Kelly DJ, Kelly SBA, Sealy S, Karya A, Analuddin K, Marples NM. 2019 a. Increased sexual dimorphism in dense populations of olive-backed sunbirds on small islands: morphological niche contraction in females but not males. Emu - Austral Ornithology 119: 296 - 307.","O'Connell DP, Kelly DJ, Kelly SBA, Analuddin K, Karya A, Marples NM, Rheindt FE, Martin TE. 2020. An assessment of the avifauna of the Wakatobi Islands, southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia: species recorded and taxonomic considerations. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 68: 574 - 587.","Stattersfield AJ, Crosby MJ, Long AJ, Wege DC. 1998. Endemic bird areas of the world: priorities for biodiversity conservation. Cambridge: BirdLife International.","Smith CE, Filardi CE. 2007. Patterns of molecular and morphological variation in some Solomon Island land birds. The Auk 124: 479 - 493.","Boyce AJ, Shakya S, Sheldon FH, Moyle RG, Martin TE. 2019. Biotic interactions are the dominant drivers of phylogenetic and functional structure in bird communities along a tropical elevational gradient. The Auk 136: ukz 054.","Rand AL. 1951. Review of the subspecies of the sunbird Nectarinia jugularis. Fieldiana Zoology 31: 597 - 607.","Billerman SM, Keeney BK, Rodewald PG, Schulenberg TS. 2022. Birds of the world. Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.","Diamond JM, Gilpin ME. 1983. Biogeographic umbilici and the origin of the Philippine avifauna. Oikos 41: 307 - 321.","Campbell KK. 2013. Evolution in a tropical archipelago: comparisons within and among 50 species of Philippine birds. Unpublished Master of Science Thesis, University of Alaska Fairbanks."]}

We describe six datasets that contain GPS and accelerometer data of 202 Eurasian oystercatchers (Haematopusostralegus) spanning the period 2008-2021. Birds were equipped with GPS trackers in breeding and wintering areas in the Netherlands and Belgium. We used GPS trackers from the University of Amsterdam Bird Tracking System (UvA-BiTS) for several study purposes, including the study of space use during the breeding season, habitat use and foraging behaviour in the winter season, and impacts of human disturbance. To enable broader usage, all data have now been made open access. Combined, the datasets contain 6.0 million GPS positions, 164 million acceleration measurements and 7.0 million classified behaviour events (i.e., flying, walking, foraging, preening, and inactive). The datasets are deposited on the research repository Zenodo, but are also accessible on Movebank and as down-sampled occurrence datasets on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). ispartof: ZOOKEYS vol:1123 issue:1123 pages:31-45 ispartof: location:Bulgaria status: published

Members of the genus Treron (Columbidae) are widely distributed in southern Asia and the Indo-Malayan Region but their relationships are poorly understood. Better knowledge of the systematic status of this genus may help studies of historical biogeography and taxonomy. The complete mitochondrial genome of T. curvirostra was characterized, a first for the genus. It is 17,414 base pairs in length, containing two rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), and one D-loop with a primary structure that is similar to that found in most members of Columbidae. Most PCGs start with the common ATG codon but are terminated by different codons. The highest value of the Ka/Ks ratio within 13 PCGs was found in ATP8 with 0.1937, suggesting that PCGs of the mitochondrial genome tend to be conservative in Columbidae. Moreover, the phylogenetic relationships within Columbidae, which was based on sequences of 13 PCGs, showed that (T. curvirostra + Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) were clustered in one clade, suggesting a potentially close relationship between Treron and Hemiphaga. However, the monophyly of the subfamilies of Columbidae recognized by the Interagency Taxonomic Information System could not be corroborated. Hence, the position of the genus Treron in the classification of Columbidae may have to be revised.

Abstract The Old World sparrows include some of the best-studied passerine species, such as the cosmopolitan human commensal, the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) as well as poorly studied narrow-range endemics like the Iago sparrow (P. iagoensis) from the Cape Verde Archipelago or specialists from extreme environments like the desert sparrow (P. simplex). It is therefore notable that to date the most complete phylogenetic hypothesis for the Old World sparrows comprised only ten of 43 currently accepted species. With this study we provide an updated phylogeny of Passeridae covering about two third of the family’s species richness. Though still being far from taxon-complete, this new phylogenetic hypothesis provides firm evidence to clarify some open taxonomic questions. All genus-level taxa were reciprocally monophyletic with strong support. Contrary to previous classifications, bush sparrows and rock sparrows were not sister taxa, and therefore their classification in separate genera Gymnoris and Petronia is justified. Plumage color traits like the yellow throat patch of the latter two genera or head color pattern in Passer species do not provide reliable phylogenetic information, except for the large-sized African grey-headed sparrows that resulted as a monophyletic group (P. diffusus, P. griseus, P. gongoensis). Unexpectedly, two small-sized species, P. eminibey and P. luteus that to date are regarded as close relatives were firmly nested in two separate clades of Passer sparrows. Therefore, their separate generic treatment under Sorella eminibey and Auripasser luteus (together with A. euchlorus) does not seem justified.

Allain, Ronan, Vullo, Romain, Rozada, Lee, Anquetin, Jérémy, Bourgeais, Renaud, Goedert, Jean, Lasseron, Maxime, Martin, Jeremy E., Pérez-García, Adán, Fabrègues, Claire Peyre De, Royo-Torres, Rafael, Augier, Dominique, Bailly, Gilles (2022): Vertebrate paleobiodiversity of the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) Angeac-Charente Lagerstätte (southwestern France): implications for continental faunal turnover at the J/K boundary. Geodiversitas 44 (25): 683-752, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2022v44a25

Cryptogyps Mather, Lee and Worthy 2022 gen. nov. http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 6CD1D60A-5B25-4431-8FB2-BD5EE5EAFE77 Type species: ‘ Taphaetus’ lacertosus de Vis, 1905: Annals of the Queensland Museum 6: 4, pl. 1, fig. 1. Etymology: The name is derived from a combination of the Ancient Greek words ‘ kryptós ’ (hidden) and ‘ gýps ’ (vulture), in reference to the fact that this taxon was known for over 100 years but was generally believed to be an eagle. Cryptogyps also relates to the word ‘crypt’, a word used to describe an underground burial chamber, referencing the discovery of the new material in caves. Revised diagnosis: A large accipitrid, similar in size to Aquila audax, with humeri differing from all other Accipitridae by the following combination of characters: (1) a prominent dorsal convexity of the facies between the tuberculum supracondylare dorsale and the epicondylus dorsalis; (2) a strongly dorsally projecting tuberculum supracondylare dorsale; (3) a distinct and deepened attachment for the origin of m. extensor digitorum communi; (4) a large, shallow, circular attachment scar for the origin of the proximal head of m. pronator superficialis (=pronator brevis); (5) t he epicondylus ventralis is strongly projected ventrally as a craniocaudally elongate peak; (6) t he processus flexorius is distally short, ending proximal to the distal margin of the condylus ventralis; (7) and it has a narrow sulcus/groove for the dorsal belly of the m. humerotricipitalis., Published as part of Mather, Ellen K., Lee, Michael S. Y. & Worthy, Trevor H., 2022, A new look at an old Australian raptor places " Taphaetus " lacertosus de Vis 1905 in the Old World vultures (Accipitridae: Aegypiinae), pp. 1-23 in Zootaxa 5168 (1) on page 7, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5168.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6876161, {"references":["de Vis, C. W. (1905) A contribution to the knowledge of the extinct avifauna of Australia. Annals of the Queensland Museum, 6, 3 - 25."]}

Aegypiinae. The fossil is very similar to aegypiine species (see Figure 4), and consistent with them in the following 13 characters: (2) a narrow sulcus hypotarsus; (3) the sulcus hypotarsus is set plantar to the sulcus flexorius, though in species of Gyps and in Aegypius monachus to a lesser degree than in the fossil; (5) the notch for the nervus peroneus is very shallow in proximal view in all species, except those in Gyps and in Sarcogyps calvus (shallow but distinct notch); (6) the fossa parahypotarsalis lateralis extends over a third of the shaft length in all species except Aegypius monachus, in which it is barely present; (8) the fossa infracotylaris dorsalis is deepened proximally in all species except those in Gyps and Necrosyrtes monachus, in which it is shallow; (13) the medial shaft margin is thin dorsal to the fossa parahypotarsalis medialis; (15) the impressiones retinaculi extensorii are extremely flattened or absent; (16) the tuberositas m. tibialis cranialis directly abuts the foramina in all species except Trigonoceps occipitalis and S. calvus (separated by one tuberositas length); (21) the sulcus for m. abductor digit IV is broad; (22) the distal extent of trochlea metatarsi II is slightly longer than or roughly equal to that of trochlea metatarsi III in all species, except those in Gyps, Aegypius monachus and Necrosyrtes monachus, in which trochlea metatarsi III has slightly greater extent than trochlea metatarsi II; (24) the plantar flange of trochlea metatarsi II is short; (25) the plantar flange of trochlea metatarsi IV is short; (27) and trochlea metatarsi II is relatively narrow. While, as shown, the lectotype and other fossils attributed to Cryptogyps lacertosus are broadly similar to those of aegypiines, they can be distinguished from those of all aegypiine genera as follows (aegypiine state in brackets). The humerus has a more prominently projecting tuberculum supracondylare dorsale (tuberculum supracondylare dorsale non-projecting), moderate cranial projection of the tuberculum supracondylare ventrale (flattened or reduced cranial projection), a shallow, large attachment scar for the proximal head of pronator superficialis (small scar), and the epicondylus ventralis is highly distinct from the tuberculum supracondylaris ventralis. The tarsometatarsus has a prominent eminentia intercotylaris (flattened or barely projecting), medial and lateral cotylae of roughly equal depth (medial shallower), a deepened notch for the nervus peroneus (shallow or no notch), a broad and deep fossa parahypotarsalis lateralis (shallow), a deep sulcus extensorius (shallow), a deep sulcus flexorius (shallow), a shallow fovea lig. collateralis (deep in all species except Gyps coprotheres), and the length of trochlea metatarsi II being slightly greater relative to trochlea metatarsi IV (significantly longer than trochlea metatarsi IV). The fossil can further be distinguished from individual genera by the following characters: From species of Torgos, Trigonoceps, Sarcogyps, and Necrosyrtes by a deeper fossa m. brachialis (shallow); from species of Torgos, Sarcogyps, Aegypius and Gyps by lacking a prominent, visible m. extensor metacarpi ulnaris origin (distinct); from Torgos, Trigonoceps, Sarcogyps, Aegypius and Gyps by the condylus ventralis being continuous with the entepicondyle (not continuous); from Torgos, Trigonoceps, Sarcogyps, Aegypius and Necrosyrtes by the trochlea metatarsi IV being relatively broad (narrow); from Trigonoceps, Sarcogyps, Aegypius and Gyps by the impressio ligamentum collateralis lateralis being prominent laterally (flattened); from Torgos, Trigonoceps, and Sarcogyps by the lateral crista hypotarsus being longer than wide (wider than long) and the tarsometatarsus being overall short and robust in length (comparatively long and elongate, narrows between proximal and distal ends); from Necrosyrtes, Gyps and Aegypius by a deep fossa infracotylaris (shallow fossa); from Torgos and Necrosyrtes by the convexity between the supracondylaris dorsalis and epicondylus dorsalis being relatively flattened (forms prominent peak); from Torgos and Aegypius by the flange of trochlea metatarsi II being extremely short (short but notably projecting medioplantarly from the trochlea); from Torgos and Trigonoceps by the crista medianoplantaris ending adjacent to the foramina vascularia proximalia (ending proximal to the foramina), and the foramen vasculare distale being set close to the incisura intertrochlearis lateralis (positioned well proximal to the incisura); from Trigonoceps and Sarcogyps by the position of the tuberositas m. tibialis cranialis being adjacent to the foramina proximalia (one tuberositas length distal) and the impressio ligamentum collateralis lateralis distinctly projecting dorsally (flat); from Necrosyrtes and Gyps by the length of trochlea metatarsi III being roughly equal with trochlea metatarsi II (trochlea metatarsi III longer than trochlea metatarsi II); from Aegypius by the broad and shallow notch distally between the condyles (deep and narrow)., Published as part of Mather, Ellen K., Lee, Michael S. Y. & Worthy, Trevor H., 2022, A new look at an old Australian raptor places " Taphaetus " lacertosus de Vis 1905 in the Old World vultures (Accipitridae: Aegypiinae), pp. 1-23 in Zootaxa 5168 (1) on pages 14-15, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5168.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6876161

Cryptogyps lacertosus (de Vis, 1905) comb. nov. Lectotype: QM F5507, distal R humerus (designated by van Tets, 1974, p. 58). Type locality: Kalamurina, Warburton River, Kati Thanda –Lake Eyre Basin, SA. Collected by John W. Gregory in April 1902 (de Vis 1905). Stratigraphy and Geological age: Katipiri Formation; mid- to late Pleistocene; the fossils are assumed to have derived from fluvial sediments that outcrop in the banks of the river at this point. The associated fauna comprises the Kalamurina Fauna and is typical of the late Pleistocene (Tedford & Wells 1990; Tedford et al. 1992). Measurements (mm) of QM F.5507: preserved distal width 35.5, lateromedial width of the condylus dorsalis 9.1, depth of the condylus dorsalis 22.3, proximodistal length of the condylus dorsalis 12.3, width of the condylus ventralis 14.1. Amended diagnosis: As for genus. Description: In addition to the diagnostic characters described above, the following characters serve to distinguish the species: (8) the palmar attachment for the m. extensor metacarpi radialis (Figure 1A, C; PEMR) on the cranial facies immediately ventral of the tuberculum supracondylare dorsale (Figure 1A; TSD), is shallow, roughly oval-shaped, and orientated dorsoventrally; (9) the sulcus for the dorsal attachment of the m. extensor metacarpi radialis (Figure 1A, B; DEMR) is large and deep on the dorsal facies of the tuberculum supracondylare dorsale, and is directed dorsoproximally; (10) the epicondylus dorsalis is dorsally flat and does not project dorsally of the condylus dorsalis; (11) the fossa m. brachialis (Figure 1A; FB) is deep, with the distal margin positioned well proximal to the tuberculum supracondylare ventrale; (12) the dorsal margin of the fossa m. brachialis extends close to (~ 2 mm) the dorsal margin of the shaft; (13) the tuberculum supracondylare ventrale (Figure 1A; TSV) is not inflated ventrally and is moderately projected cranially; (14) the interior margin of the tuberculum supracondylare ventrale is aligned roughly parallel to the adjacent medial surface; (15) the attachment scars for the origin of the distal head of m. pronator superficialis and of m. pronator profundus are deep, with that for the former being deepest; (16) the incisura intercondylaris (Figure 1A; II) is relatively broad, roughly 3 mm in width, and distinctly separates the two condyles cranially; (17) the distal point of the condylus dorsalis (Figure 1A; CD) is set well proximal of the distalmost point of the condylus ventralis, with the distal margin forming a broad, shallow notch between the two condyles; (18) the distoventral margin of the condylus ventralis (Figure 1A; CV) is continuous with the entepicondyle; (19) and the sulcus scapulotricipitalis (Figure 1D; SST) is shallow and relatively broad.

Notochen bannockburnensis gen. et sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: BC0E01B9-66A0-4D66-BA09-ECF52C529F9A urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E5500207-D342-4AD2-8D9F-9302E5F2502C Holotype: CM 2017.37.919 (figure 1), a distal right humerus Diagnosis: A swan-sized anatid in which the distal humerus is little expanded ventrally, the tuberculum supracondylare ventrale is not distinctly ventral to the shaft, is flattened rather than elevated facing somewhat distally, elongate and extends well proximal to the condylus dorsalis, and is widely separated from but proximally surpasses the distal end of a small ovate fossa musculi brachialis. Type Locality: Croc Site, Layer 1, c. 10 cm thick sand and cobble layer, in a 3 m cliff on the north side of a small hill, west side Mata Creek, near St Bathans, Otago. 44° 53.370’ S 169° 50.26998’ E. NZ Fossil Record File Number H 41/f84. Stratigraphy and age: 3.5 m above base of the Bannockburn Formation, Manuherikia Group, 19–16 Ma, early Miocene (see Worthy et al. 2022). Etymology: After notios southern, Gk, and chen, from Chenopis, the endemic subgenus of goose-like swans of Australasia, feminine, and bannockburnensis for ‘of the Bannockburn, alluding to its source from the Bannockburn Formation’. Suggested common name Bannockburn swan. Measurements (mm): Preserved length 114, depth dorsal condyle 13.2, shaft width just proximal to fossa brachialis 17.0, shaft where not crushed 27 mm proximal to fossa brachialis 13.5 wide by 11.7 deep, diameter from pits for the origin of musculus flexor carpi ulnaris and origin of musculus supinator to the ventral side of tuberculum supracondylare ventrale at its mid-length 23.3. Referred specimens: NMNZ S50823, S50824, two omal parts left coracoid, Bed HH1b [not Bed HH1a, contra Worthy et al. 2008, wherein the bed was misidentified], Trench Excavation, Manuherikia River Section; NMNZ S53149, omal part R coracoid, Bed HH1b, Trench Excavation, Manuherikia River Section. All are from the basal 25 m of the Bannockburn Formation in the Manuherikia lacustrina biostratigraphic zone (Worthy et al. 2022) and part of the St Bathans Fauna (Worthy et al. 2008; Schwarzhans et al. 2012). As described in Worthy et al. (2008), these coracoids are very fragmentary: they feature a short broad facies articularis humeralis, a dorsoventrally broad base to the processus acrocoracoideus where it extends from the facies articularis humeralis, dorsal part sulcus supracoracoideus lacking pneumatic foramina, and a deep cup-like cotyla scapularis. Therefore, the structure of the processus procoracoideus and all parts more sternal are unknown and so these specimens do not afford any insights on relationships. Tentatively referred is CM Av40461, a proximal part of the right shaft of a humerus, collected 9-Jan-08, from Bed HH1a, Manuherikia River. The width of the shaft at the distalmost edge is 12.4 mm and the width is 14.7 mm at the distal end of the crista deltopectoralis. Of appropriate size for CM 2017.37.919, it shows that the distal end of musculus latissimus dorsi abuts the crista deltopectoralis and that caudally the margo caudalis is compressed forming a rounded acute capital shaft ridge, as it does in species of Cereopsis and Cygnus. Remarks: Notochen bannockburnensis cannot be certainly referred to one or other of Cygnini or Anserini, as separation of these taxa on the distal humerus is principally by the distal projection of processus flexorius; it extends past the condylus ventralis in the Anserini but it does not in the Cygnini (Louchart et al. 2005), and this part of the fossil is missing. However, the large size, with distal width similar to that of Cygnus atratus, but with a stouter shaft, suggests a referral to Cygnini is likely. No Oligo-Miocene anatids of similar size are known from Australia (Worthy 2009). Given the age disparity and geographic separation it is not likely that Notochen bannockburnensis could relate to the few European Oligoceneearly Miocene putative anserines, but where taxa are comparable, differences exist. Guguschia nailiae Aslanova & Burczak-Abramowicz, 1968 is a swan-sized anseriform of late Oligocene-early Miocene age that differs by an absence of a facet on the tuberculum supracondylare ventrale and a larger tuberculum supracondylare dorsale (Aslanova & Burczak-Abramowicz 1968). Both Cygnopterus affinis (van Beneden, 1883) of middle Oligocene age and Cygnopterus neogradensis Kessler & Hír, 2009 of middle Miocene age, have a proximodistally short facet for the attachment of the anterior articular ligament, see Lambrecht (1931, Taf. II, 1, 2) and Kessler & Hír (2009). The known material of Cygnavus senckenbergi Lambrecht, 1931, from the early Miocene, lectotype left femur and a distal tibiotarsus and phalanx, and Cygnavus formosus Kurochkin, 1968, early Oligocene, a tibiotarsus, are incomparable. Cygnopterus alphonsi Cheneval, 1984, synonymised with Cygnavus senckenbergi Lambrecht, 1931 by Mlíkovský (2002), has a worn humerus referred to it, however the details of the tuberculum supracondylare ventrale are not discernible in the publication (Cheneval 1984). All similar-sized anserines of middle–late Miocene are placed in modern genera. The exception is the late Miocene-Pliocene Afrocygnus chauvireae Louchart, Vignaud, Likius, Mackaye & Brunet, 2005 from Africa, which has a similarly distally robust shaft and differs by the scar for the attachment anterior articular ligament being rather circular instead of proximodistally elongate as in the fossil (Louchart et al. 2005).