摘要：We report the occurrence of an isolated avian dorsal vertebra in Cretaceous strata of Morocco.
The specimen was found near Erfoud oasis in the Tafilalt region of southeastern Morocco preserved in a
reddish sandstone. It has a large neural canal (ratio height neural canal/cranial articulation surface = 0.67),
a feature regarded as a synapomorphy of Aves. Compared to dorsal vertebrae of other Mesozoic birds, the
Moroccan specimen is most similar to Rahona ostromi from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. The absence
of a developed pleurocoel, however, indicates that it belongs to a distinct taxon. Although the correct
phylogenetic position of this specimen within Aves cannot be reliably determined, it most likely represents a
basal group. This specimen is significant because it represents the second osteological evidence of a Cretaceous
bird from northern Gondwana.
Loading...
