Magnificent Mihirungs: The Colossal Flightless Birds of the Australian Dreamtime

Přední strana obálky
Indiana University Press, 4. 3. 2004 - Počet stran: 410

Over millions of years, Australia's unique biodiversity has produced a large cabinet of curiosities. Among the weirder members of this group were the Mihirungs, members of the now extinct family Dromornithidae. Made up of several genera of flightless birds—among them one of the very largest birds that ever lived—the dromornithids ranged from 60-kilogram beasts, 1.5 meters tall, to giants twice that size, weighing nearly half a metric ton. They were, by orders of magnitude, the largest "geese" that ever lived. One species was comparable in size to the Ele-phantbird of Madagascar and the Giant Moa of New Zealand. This book is the first major study of this unique and highly diverse group. It aims to present as complete a synthesis as possible of current information about this fascinating family of birds.

 

Vybrané stránky

Obsah

Introduction
1
Dromornithids and the Origin
7
The Economy of Scale
13
Classification
34
Description of Dromornithid Structure
57
Dromornithids and the Origin of Anseriform Birds
163
Appearance Posture and Stature
183
Could Dromornithids Run?
213
Evidence from Local Faunas
281
Autorská práva

Běžně se vyskytující výrazy a sousloví

adductor Aepyornis maximus Alcoota allometric Anhimidae anhimids Anseranas semipalmata anseriform birds Anseriformes articular surface Australia avian Barawertornis Barawertornis tedfordi basipterygoid body mass bones broad browsing Bullock Creek Bullockornis planei Centimetres character cnemial crest Coracoid cotyla cranium deep Diatryma digit Dinornis diprotodontids distal dorsal Dromornis australis Dromornis stirtoni dromornithid species dromornithids Elephantbird estimated external condyle extinct facet femora femur fenestra foramen fossa fossil fragment galliform geese Genyornis newtoni giant groove ground birds herbivorous Ilbandornis woodburnei internal joint kangaroos Lake Callabonna Late Miocene lateral aspect lawsoni length ligament lower mandible Magpie Goose mandible mandibular margin marsupial medial Mihirung Miocene mornithids morphology muscles Neural spine notch Orbital Ostrich pelvic limb pelvis Pleistocene Pliocene posterior postorbital process proximal pterygoid quadrates ratite relatively restoration scapulocoracoid shaft skeleton skull specimens sternum Stirling and Zietz structures tarsometatarsus Tertiary tibiotarsus toes tomial trochanter trochlea tuberosity upper mandible ventral vertebrae

Bibliografické údaje

NázevMagnificent Mihirungs: The Colossal Flightless Birds of the Australian Dreamtime
Life of the Past
AutořiPeter F. Murray, Patricia Vickers-Rich
Vydáníilustrované vydání
VydavatelIndiana University Press, 2004
ISBN0253342821, 9780253342829
DélkaPočet stran: 410
  
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