RE: Bibliography on Aepyornis

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Evan Robinson wrote:

> Rasmussen, D.T., E. L. Simons, F. Hertel and A. Judd, 2001. Hindlimb of a 
> Giant Terrestrial Bird From The Upper Eocene, Fayum, Egypt. Palaeontology, 
> Vol 44, Part 2, 2001, pp. 325-337
>
> They conclude that this bird, which they now dub Eremopezus eocaenus alone, 
> may not even be a ratite. However, this conclusion appears to be based 
> solely on their interpretation of how these fossil legs fit into their 
> picture of a walking distribution of ratites.

Rasmussen et al. (2001) also suggest that, based on the relative size and 
proportions of the trochleae, _Eremopezus_'s toes might have been 
prehensile.  Since _Eremopezus_ was presumably too big to perch in trees 
(!), this may indicate that its feet were used in predation.  This lifestyle 
may also weigh against paleognathous/ratite affinities for _Eremopezus_.

> Therefore, although the Eremopezus fossils consist of insufficient material 
> to be conclusive, save that they are legs of a large non-didactylous bird, 
> they could yet someday prove to be closely related to elephantbirds.

There are several lineages of large terrestrial secondary flightless 
non-ratites that existed in the Cenozoic (e.g., phorusrhacoids, 
gastornithids/diatrymids, dromornithids).  _Eremopezus_ may represent yet 
another lineage.  At the moment, there is no compelling evidence to suggest 
that _Eremopezus_ was a ratite.



Tim

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