Palaeoglaux

Taxobox
name = Paleoglaux
status = fossil
fossil_range = Middle Eocene


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Strigiformes
familia = [Palaeoglucidae]
family_authority = Wagler, 1830,/small>
genus = "Palaeoglaux"
genus_authority = Mourer - Chauviré, 1987
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision ="P. perrierensis" Mourer - Chauviré, 1987 (type)"P. artophoron" Peters, 1992

Palaeoglaux is a genus of extinct owls known from fossil remains. There are two known species, "perrierensis" from the Upper Eocene of Quercy, France and "Artophoron" from Messel, Germany.Mourer-Chauviré, Cécile (1987) "The owls (Aves:strigiformes) of Phosphorites Du Quercy (France) systematics, biostratigraphy, and paleobiogeography" pp.89-136 in "Documents des laboratoires de geologie Lyon" Départment des Sciences de la Terre, Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1. ISBN 2-85454-029-8] The holotype of P. perrierensis is a partial left coracoid in the Collection Université Montpellier, accession umber PRR 2585. There are four paratypes; the distal part of a left humerus (PRR2591), the proximal part of a left ulna (PRR 2571), the distal part of a left ulna (PRR 2578) and the distal part of a right tarsometatarsus (PRR 2576). The type specimen of P. artophoron are a fossil slab and counterslab containing most of the postcranial skeleton and some feather impressions. This specimen is in the collection of the Forschunginstitut Senckenberg, accession number SMF-ME 1144 A and B.

The feathers of P. artophoron show some unique characteristics. The feathers on the trunk are about 1mm wide and 2cm long. They appear to be membranous and ribbon-like, without barbs This may be an artifact of preservation, but eight nearby primaries show barbs quite clearly. Peters noted that ribbon - like, elongated plumes are known from some living birds, but all are used in display. He writes that display feathers are unexpected in a nocturnal owl, and wonders if this lineage of owls was, in fact, diurnal.Peters, Dieter Stefan (1992) "A new species of owl (Aves:Srigiformes) from the Middle Eocene Messel oil shale" pp. 161-169 in "Papers in Avian paleontology honoring pierce Brodkorp" edited by Kenneth Campbell, Jr. NO. 36 Science Series Natural history Museum of Los Angeles County.]

References