Dryornis

Dryornis (meaning "tree bird"), also called the Argentinian vulture, is an extinct genus of Cathartid (New World vulture), known from Argentina.[1] The genus contains two species, D. pampeanus and D. hatcheri.[2]

Dryornis
Temporal range: Early Miocene (Santacrucian)–Late Pliocene (Piacenzian)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Cathartidae
Genus: †Dryornis
Moreno & Mercerat, 1891
Species
  • †D. hatcheri Degrange, 2022
  • †D. pampeanus Moreno & Mercerat, 1891

Discovery and naming
An extant Vultur gryphus (Andean condor) in flight, which was likely a close relative of Dryornis[3]

The first Dryornis fossils were discovered in the Chapadmalal Formation, dating to the late Pliocene (Piacenzian), of Argentina. In 1891, the remains were described as a new genus and species by F. P. Moreno, F. P. and A. Mercerat. Additional remains were then described in 2021 by Degrange et al.[4]

In 2022, Federico J. Degrange described a new species of Dryornis, D. hatcheri, from the early Miocene (Santacrucian) Santa Cruz Formation of Argentina. The specific name, "hatcheri," honors John B. Hatcher, the American paleontologist who discovered the holotype specimen, YMP-PVVU 15866.[2]

Description

Dryornis represents the largest known cathartiform. Analysis of the known fossil materials suggests that it had a body mass 57% greater than Vultur grypus (Andean condor) and 94% greater than Cathartes aura (turkey vulture). Dryornis would have been a scavenger, and the only such predator in its ecosystem.[4]

Classification

In their phylogenetic analyses, Degrange et al. (2021) recovered Dryornis as a member of the Cathartidae and sister taxon to Coragyps + Cathartes. It was more closely related to vultures then to condors.[4]

Cathartidae
 
 

Sarcoramphus papa

 
 
 

Gymnogyps californianus

 
 

Vultur gryphus

 
 
 
 
 

†Dryornis pampeanus

 
 
 
 

Coragyps atratus

 
 
 

Cathartes melambrotus

 
 
 

Cathartes burriovianus

 
 

Cathartes aura

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References
  1. Campbell, Michael O'Neal (June 26, 2015). Vultures: Their Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation. Boca Raton: CRC Press. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-4822-2362-0. OCLC 898155265.
  2. Degrange, Federico J. (2022-02-14). "A new species of Dryornis (Aves, Cathartiformes) from the Santa Cruz Formation (lower Miocene), Patagonia, Argentina". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: e2008411. doi:10.1080/02724634.2021.2008411. ISSN 0272-4634. S2CID 246833070.
  3. Emslie, Steven D. (1988-06-22). "The fossil history and phylogenetic relationships of condors (Ciconiiformes: Vulturidae) in the New World". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 8 (2): 212–228. doi:10.1080/02724634.1988.10011699. ISSN 0272-4634.
  4. Degrange, Federico J.; Tambussi, Claudia P.; Taglioretti, Matías L.; Scaglia, Fernando A. (2021-04-16). "Phylogenetic affinities and morphology of the Pliocene cathartiform Dryornis pampeanus Moreno & Mercerat". Papers in Palaeontology. 7 (4): 1765–1780. doi:10.1002/spp2.1361. ISSN 2056-2799. S2CID 234850849.
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