Post by Infinity Blade on Jun 26, 2019 0:16:13 GMT 5
Kaua’i Mole Duck-Talpanas lippa
© @ DeviantArt user A2812 (Jacek Major)
Temporal range: Holocene (5,400 years ago[1])
Scientific classification:
Life
Domain: Eukaryota
(unranked): Unikonta
(unranked): Opisthokonta
(unranked): Holozoa
(unranked): Filozoa
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
(unranked): Bilateria
Clade: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Olfactores
Clade: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Eugnathostomata
Clade: Teleostomi
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Clade: Reptiliomorpha
Clade: Amniota
Class: Reptilia or Clade: Sauropsida
Clade: Eureptilia
Clade: Romeriida
Clade: Diapsida
Clade: Neodiapsida
Clade: Archelosauria
Clade: Archosauromorpha
Clade: Archosauriformes
Clade: Crurotarsi
Clade: Archosauria
Clade: Avemetatarsalia
Clade: Ornithodira
Clade: Dinosauromorpha
Clade: Dinosauriformes
Clade: Dinosauria
Order: Saurischia
Clade: Eusaurischia
Suborder: Theropoda
Clade: Neotheropoda
Clade: Averostra
Clade: Tetanurae
Clade: Orionides
Clade: Avetheropoda
Clade: Coelurosauria
Clade: Tyrannoraptora
Clade: Maniraptoriformes
Clade: Maniraptora
Clade: Pennaraptora
Clade: Paraves
Clade: Eumaniraptora
Clade: Averaptora
Clade: Avialae
Clade: Euavialae
Clade: Avebrevicauda
Clade: Pygostylia
Clade: Ornithothoraces
Clade: Euornithes
Clade: Orithuromorpha
Clade: Ornithurae
Clade: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Galloanserae
Clade: Odontoanserae
Clade: Anserimorphae
Clade: Anseriformes
Clade: Anseres
Superfamily: Anatoidea
Family: Anatidae
Genus: †Talpanas
Species: †T. lippa
Talpanas lippa, colloquially known as the “mole-duck”, is an extinct species of duck that lived on the island of Kauai, Hawaiian Islands about 5,400 years ago.[1]
Description:
Body mass estimates for the species when compared to living species, as well as standard markers such as acetabulum diameter, indicate that T. lippa was a medium to large-sized duck that weighed between 692 and 1072 grams. This is approximately the size of a northern pintail (Anas acuta) or a female mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). However, Talpanas had much shorter, stouter legs.[2]
The two known tarsometatarsi from this species are notably different in size, which may suggest sexual dimorphism in the species. Sexual dimorphism is exhibited in many waterfowl, with the males being larger.[2]
Biology and habits:
The morphology of the pelvic appendage, and the robust tarsometatarsus with no large muscle scars, suggest that T. lippa was not an underwater forager, but rather a graviportal terrestrial bird. It was most likely flightless.[2]
Perhaps the most notable aspect about Talpanas is its cranial anatomy. The eyes were small and laterally placed, more so than in other anatids. Furthermore, the optic foramen was relatively small, smaller than in any other examined anseriform.[2] Later research has corroborated this finding; the optic nerves were small and the optic lobes were almost indiscernible. Indeed, even kiwis do not have visual systems reduced to the extent of Talpanas. Kiwis have an enlarged olfactory apparatus, which was unexpanded and of a size expected for an anatid.[1] On the other hand, the trigeminal foramen was grossly enlarged, more so than in other anseriforms[2] and kiwis[1]. The only anatids with a trigeminal foramen approaching (though seemingly still not quite reaching; see [1]) that of Talpanas in enlargement are stiff-tail ducks (tribe Oxyurini), which prey upon small invertebrates by dabbling at the surface of the water or underwater. Although they do not appear to use vision while locating prey when diving, they have not undergone a reduction in their visual system like Talpanas did.[2] Perhaps the best analog for Talpanas is the platypus, with its greatly reduced vision, moderate olfaction, and enormous trigeminal system. The palate and braincase of Talpanas indicate that it had a broad, shallow bill filled with tactile nerve endings.[2] The retroarticular process was much shorter and less curved than in other anatids, which suggests a reduction in the use of the M. depressor mandibulae for rapid bill movements (dabbling)[2], and a feeding apparatus removed from that of its dabbling duck ancestors[1].
These anatomical features all suggest that Talpanas lippa was a nocturnal, flightless, very weak-sighted, graviportal duck that relied on a highly sensitive bill that picked up somatosensory cues from its prey in the underbrush.[1][2]
Extinction:
This flightless bird would have been vulnerable human hunting and introduced predators after the arrival of humans on the island of Kauai[3] (who seem to have arrived between 1039-1241 CE[4]).
References:
[1] Witmer, L.M.; Ridgely, R.C.; James, H.F.; Olson, S.L.; Iwaniuk, A.N. (2017). The remarkable, recently extinct “mole-duck” Talpanas lippa (Aves: Anseriformes) from Kauai, Hawaii: behavioral implications of its neuroanatomy and skull morphology. The FASEB Journal.
[2] Iwaniuk, A.N.; Olson, S.L.; James, H.F. (2009). Extraordinary cranial specialization in a new genus of extinct duck (Aves: Anseriformes) from Kauai, Hawaiian Islands. Zootaxa.
[3] Hume, J.P. (2017). Extinct Birds (p. 65). Bloomsbury Publishing.
[4] Burney, D.A.; James, H.F.; Burney, L.P.; Olson, S.L.; Kikuchi, W.; Wagner, W.L.; Burney, M.; McClosky, D.; Kikuchi, D.; Grady, F.V.; Gage II, R.; Nishek, R. (2001). Fossil Evidence For a Diverse Biota From Kaua’i And Its Transformation Since Human Arrival. Ecological Monographs.
© @ DeviantArt user A2812 (Jacek Major)
Temporal range: Holocene (5,400 years ago[1])
Scientific classification:
Life
Domain: Eukaryota
(unranked): Unikonta
(unranked): Opisthokonta
(unranked): Holozoa
(unranked): Filozoa
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
(unranked): Bilateria
Clade: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Olfactores
Clade: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Eugnathostomata
Clade: Teleostomi
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Clade: Reptiliomorpha
Clade: Amniota
Class: Reptilia or Clade: Sauropsida
Clade: Eureptilia
Clade: Romeriida
Clade: Diapsida
Clade: Neodiapsida
Clade: Archelosauria
Clade: Archosauromorpha
Clade: Archosauriformes
Clade: Crurotarsi
Clade: Archosauria
Clade: Avemetatarsalia
Clade: Ornithodira
Clade: Dinosauromorpha
Clade: Dinosauriformes
Clade: Dinosauria
Order: Saurischia
Clade: Eusaurischia
Suborder: Theropoda
Clade: Neotheropoda
Clade: Averostra
Clade: Tetanurae
Clade: Orionides
Clade: Avetheropoda
Clade: Coelurosauria
Clade: Tyrannoraptora
Clade: Maniraptoriformes
Clade: Maniraptora
Clade: Pennaraptora
Clade: Paraves
Clade: Eumaniraptora
Clade: Averaptora
Clade: Avialae
Clade: Euavialae
Clade: Avebrevicauda
Clade: Pygostylia
Clade: Ornithothoraces
Clade: Euornithes
Clade: Orithuromorpha
Clade: Ornithurae
Clade: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Galloanserae
Clade: Odontoanserae
Clade: Anserimorphae
Clade: Anseriformes
Clade: Anseres
Superfamily: Anatoidea
Family: Anatidae
Genus: †Talpanas
Species: †T. lippa
Talpanas lippa, colloquially known as the “mole-duck”, is an extinct species of duck that lived on the island of Kauai, Hawaiian Islands about 5,400 years ago.[1]
Description:
Body mass estimates for the species when compared to living species, as well as standard markers such as acetabulum diameter, indicate that T. lippa was a medium to large-sized duck that weighed between 692 and 1072 grams. This is approximately the size of a northern pintail (Anas acuta) or a female mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). However, Talpanas had much shorter, stouter legs.[2]
The two known tarsometatarsi from this species are notably different in size, which may suggest sexual dimorphism in the species. Sexual dimorphism is exhibited in many waterfowl, with the males being larger.[2]
Biology and habits:
The morphology of the pelvic appendage, and the robust tarsometatarsus with no large muscle scars, suggest that T. lippa was not an underwater forager, but rather a graviportal terrestrial bird. It was most likely flightless.[2]
Perhaps the most notable aspect about Talpanas is its cranial anatomy. The eyes were small and laterally placed, more so than in other anatids. Furthermore, the optic foramen was relatively small, smaller than in any other examined anseriform.[2] Later research has corroborated this finding; the optic nerves were small and the optic lobes were almost indiscernible. Indeed, even kiwis do not have visual systems reduced to the extent of Talpanas. Kiwis have an enlarged olfactory apparatus, which was unexpanded and of a size expected for an anatid.[1] On the other hand, the trigeminal foramen was grossly enlarged, more so than in other anseriforms[2] and kiwis[1]. The only anatids with a trigeminal foramen approaching (though seemingly still not quite reaching; see [1]) that of Talpanas in enlargement are stiff-tail ducks (tribe Oxyurini), which prey upon small invertebrates by dabbling at the surface of the water or underwater. Although they do not appear to use vision while locating prey when diving, they have not undergone a reduction in their visual system like Talpanas did.[2] Perhaps the best analog for Talpanas is the platypus, with its greatly reduced vision, moderate olfaction, and enormous trigeminal system. The palate and braincase of Talpanas indicate that it had a broad, shallow bill filled with tactile nerve endings.[2] The retroarticular process was much shorter and less curved than in other anatids, which suggests a reduction in the use of the M. depressor mandibulae for rapid bill movements (dabbling)[2], and a feeding apparatus removed from that of its dabbling duck ancestors[1].
These anatomical features all suggest that Talpanas lippa was a nocturnal, flightless, very weak-sighted, graviportal duck that relied on a highly sensitive bill that picked up somatosensory cues from its prey in the underbrush.[1][2]
Extinction:
This flightless bird would have been vulnerable human hunting and introduced predators after the arrival of humans on the island of Kauai[3] (who seem to have arrived between 1039-1241 CE[4]).
References:
[1] Witmer, L.M.; Ridgely, R.C.; James, H.F.; Olson, S.L.; Iwaniuk, A.N. (2017). The remarkable, recently extinct “mole-duck” Talpanas lippa (Aves: Anseriformes) from Kauai, Hawaii: behavioral implications of its neuroanatomy and skull morphology. The FASEB Journal.
[2] Iwaniuk, A.N.; Olson, S.L.; James, H.F. (2009). Extraordinary cranial specialization in a new genus of extinct duck (Aves: Anseriformes) from Kauai, Hawaiian Islands. Zootaxa.
[3] Hume, J.P. (2017). Extinct Birds (p. 65). Bloomsbury Publishing.
[4] Burney, D.A.; James, H.F.; Burney, L.P.; Olson, S.L.; Kikuchi, W.; Wagner, W.L.; Burney, M.; McClosky, D.; Kikuchi, D.; Grady, F.V.; Gage II, R.; Nishek, R. (2001). Fossil Evidence For a Diverse Biota From Kaua’i And Its Transformation Since Human Arrival. Ecological Monographs.
