Torotix

Taxobox
name = "Torotix"
status = fossil
fossil_range = Late Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
subclassis = Neornithes
infraclassis = Neognathae
superordo = Neoaves
genus = "Torotix"
genus_authority = Brodkorb,1963
species = "T. clemensi"
binomial = "Torotix clemensi"
binomial_authority = Brodkorb,1963

"Torotix" is a Late Cretaceous genus of aquatic bird. It lived along the shores of the Western Interior Seaway, but it is not clear whether it was a seabird or a freshwater bird, as it is only known from a humerus. Consequently, the genus is monotypic, with the single species "Torotix clemensi".

It appears to be closely related to the ancestor of some modern birds. It was initially suggested to be related to modern flamingos, but later comparative studies found it more similar to Pelecaniformes, Procellariiformes or Charadriiformes (waders/shorebirds).

The former two of these are quite likely paraphyletic and they, or posibly all three, are today generally believed to be closely related. The idea that "Torotix" might be basal to some lineages of these three, and/or other "higher waterbirds", is by and large compatible with current phylogenetic analyses based on morphological and DNA sequence data.

Indeed, some more astounding findings of the recent years indicate that if "Torotix" was close to flamingos, it would be likely to have had some features reminiscent of plesiomorphies found in grebes, as these and flamingos seem to be closer relatives than either is to the three other groups.

A cladistic study of wing bones found "Torotix" not to resemble any of the Waved Albatross (a procellariiform), Northern Gannet (a "pelecaniform" of the suborder Suli), Painted Buttonquail (an ancient charadriiform), Black-necked Stilt (a more advanced charadriiform) and a "Phoenicopterus" flamingo noticeably more than any other. As this comparison apparently provided information about ecomorphological rather than phylogenetic similarities, it is only clear that assignemt of "Torotix" of any living bird order is certainly premature. [Varricchio (2002), see there for details.]

The family Torotigidae has been established to unite this taxon with "Parascaniornis" and "Gallornis". However, the former of these is now considered a junior synonym of "Baptornis" (Hesperornithes), while the latter may or may not be a very early fowl of the Galloanserae [See also the remarks in Sibley "et al." (1969).] . On the other hand, the slightly younger "Novacaesareala hungerfordi" which lived on the western Atlantic coasts appears to be - despite also being insufficiently known - the closest relative of "Torotix" hitherto found and thus it could be warranted to accept the Torotigidae as valid [Mortimer (2004)] . On the other hand, it may be that this "family" is simply a basal group united by plesiomorphies, and hence it is not used here.

Footnotes

References

* (2004): The Theropod Database: [http://home.comcast.net/~eoraptor/Phylogeny%20of%20Taxa.html Phylogeny of taxa] . Retrieved 2008-AUG-14.
* (1969): The Relationships of the Flamingos as Indicated by the Egg-White Proteins and Hemoglobins. "Condor" 71(2): 155-179. [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Condor/files/issues/v071n02/p0155-p0179.pdf PDF fulltext]
* (2002): A new bird from the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of Montana. "Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences" 39(1): 19-26. [http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/cgi-bin/rp/rp2_abst_e?cjes_e01-057_39_ns_nf_cjes HTML abstract]