Odontopterygiformes (was Re: Fossil bird review article (Mayr, 2005, Biol. Rev.)

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

While on the topic of Paleogene birds, there is also this:

Bourdon, E. (2005).  Osteological evidence for sister group relationship 
between pseudo-toothed birds (Aves: Odontopterygiformes) and waterfowls 
(Anseriformes).  Naturwissenschaften (Online First).

Abstract: "The phylogenetic affinities of the extinct pseudo-toothed birds 
have remained controversial. Some authors noted that they resemble both 
pelicans and allies (Pelecaniformes) and tube-nosed birds 
(Procellariiformes), but assigned them to a distinct taxon, the 
Odontopterygiformes. In most recent studies, the pseudo-toothed birds are 
referred to the family Pelagornithidae inside the Pelecaniformes. Here, I 
perform a cladistic analysis with five taxa of the pseudo-toothed birds 
including two undescribed new species from the Early Tertiary of Morocco. 
The present hypothesis strongly supports a sister group relationship of 
pseudo-toothed birds (Odontopterygiformes) and waterfowls (Anseriformes). 
The Odontoanserae (Odontopterygiformes plus Anseriformes) are the sister 
group of Neoaves. The placement of the landfowls (Galliformes) as the sister 
taxon of all other neognathous birds does not support the consensus view 
that the Galloanserae (Galliformes plus Anseriformes) are monophyletic."
Electronic supplementary material  Supplementary material is available in 
the online version of this article at 
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00114-005-0047-0.

Bourdon finds the Galloanserae to be paraphyletic, and Anseriformes are 
grouped with the extinct Odontopterygiformes in the new clade Odontoanserae. 
 The Galliformes are recovered as the most basal neognath clade.  (The 
hoatzin [Opisthocomidae] comes up as the most basal neoavian clade.  Mayr's 
(2005) paper (mentioned by Mickey Rowe) upholds a previous view that the 
gastornithids (= diatrymids) are actually anseriforms (though I can't see 
why they would be in the crown-group).  Considering that the dromornithids 
are also considered by some researchers to be at least closely related to 
the anseriforms, the basal Neognathae is getting quite crowded: Galliformes, 
Anseriformes, Dromornithidae, Gastornithids and now Odontopterygiformes.  
Maybe lithornithids as well.

Cheers

Tim