Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 44(1) 2001

Issue:

VOL 44(1) 2001

Keywords:

Fossil birds, Early Pliocene, Bulgaria, Pavo bravardi, Lagopus, hawk, falcon, Balkan peninsula, Paleobiogeography

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Early Pliocene avifauna of Muselievo (C Northern Bulgaria)

• Nikolaev BOEV

Abstract:

Fourteen avian finds (MNI 9) have been collected from the new site of fossil vertebrate fauna near the village of Muselievo (C Northern Bulgaria, 43°36’N, 24°50’E), 10 km from the river Danube. They are dated Early Pliocene - 2nd half of the Middle Ruscinian, MN 15 (3,3-3,1 Ma). A distal humerus is identified as Accipiter sp. ex gr. gentilis. Four phalanges of the posterior limbs of an adult individual are referred to Pavo bravardi (GERVAIS, 1849). A proximal humerus is determined as Lagopus aff. atavus, and a distal pedal phalanx is referred to Falco sp. Among the remaining finds are unidentifiable fragments of small to medium sized Passeres and Aves indet.