Leptoptilos falconeri

Leptoptilos falconeri is an extinct species of large-bodied Leptoptilini stork that existed during the Pliocene, having persisted until just over 2.58 million years ago. Although not the oldest fossil species of the genus Leptoptilos (as several date to earlier times such as the Miocene) it was the first fossil species of the genus to be described (found in cave deposits in India). Furthermore, it was the largest known species of stork ever and amongst the tallest and heaviest flying birds known to have existed, having reached at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height.[1][2]

Leptoptilos falconeri
Temporal range: Pliocene, 5.3–2.58 Ma
↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconiidae
Genus: Leptoptilos
Species:
†L. falconeri
Binomial name
†Leptoptilos falconeri
Milne−Edwards, 1868

Taxonomy

The genus name Leptoptilos is derived from the Greek word lepto meaning "thin or slender", which refers to the storks slim build and the Greek word ptilo meaning "down or soft feather", referring to the soft feather down covering the frame of the members of Leptotilos stork. The species name, falconeri was named in honor of Henri Falconer, who gathered the type specimen in the Sivalik Hills of India, to be later named by Alphonse Milne-Edwards in France.[1]

Distribution

Leptoptilos has an extensive fossil record, extending not only to Asia and Africa but to Europe and even to South America.[3] Leptoptilos falconeri, in particular, appears to have been a widely found species. Despite its type specimen being from India, extensive fossil records show it was distributed well into Africa, from deposits within Ethiopia, Chad and Egypt as well as possibly Kenya.[1][4][5] Analysis by Louchart, et al. (2005) suggested that an excessive number of Leptoptilos had been described and that L. falconeri is the only species for which there is strong evidence of it being present in the Pliocene, making the lineage of extant Leptoptilos species somewhat ambiguous. Given its unique osteological characteristics, it is thought to be unlikely that L. falconeri is the ancestor of any living stork.[1][2]

Description and life history

Leptoptilos falconeri was similar in adaptations to a somewhat better-known cousin from a younger insular fossil species from Flores, Leptoptilos robustus, that also grew to very large dimensions, although current estimated sizes for that species are slightly smaller than L. falconeri.[6][7] It can be inferred from the recorded dimensions of the bones that L. falconeri was substantially taller and heavier than other species of Leptoptilos. Much like L. robustus, L. falconeri showed reduced forelimb size relative to its otherwise oversized, robust skeletal structure, suggesting limited flying abilities (though, perhaps unlike L. robustus, it is not currently opined to have been completely flightlessness) and a strongly terrestrial lifestyle.[1][2] The most striking feature of L. falconeri fossils are its very large size. It is estimated that this species attained an average height of 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and weighed approximately 20 kg (44 lb), larger than other good-sized fossil species such as Leptoptilos titan (and the aforementioned L. robustus).[1][7] L. falconeri was taller than the tallest extant flying bird, the up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) sarus crane, and substantially heavier than the heaviest flying birds such as condors, swans or large bustards. While the largest members of the bustard family can weigh up to perhaps 18 kg (40 lb) or more, these largest living flying species average only around 11 to 12 kg (24 to 26 lb), about 45% less heavier on average than L. falconeri.[8][9][10][11]

All three modern species of the genus Leptoptilos are large, bulky storks which forage extensive in open areas, switching between the lifestyle of being a scavenger on carrion, unlike other storks, and then alternating usually to more nutritious small, live prey such as fish and invertebrates when feeding nestlings (although the smaller lesser adjutant more infrequently engages in scavenging that the other two species).[12] Since the specifics of the life history of fossil storks are difficult to infer, it can be more or less assumed that fossil Leptoptilos led a similar lifestyle to the modern species. However, given the much larger sizes and limited flight of large species such as L. falconeri this may have facilitated a more cursorial foraging style and more active predation on sometimes substantial prey.[1][7][13][14] While modern species are not usually actively predatory, locally marabou storks are considered the most substantial threat to colonies of lesser flamingoes and have been shown to dispatch even adult flamingoes.[12][15]

References
  1. Louchart, A., Vignaud, P., Likius, A., Brunet, M., & White, T. D. (2005). A large extinct marabou stork in African Pliocene hominid sites, and a review of the fossil species of Leptoptilos. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 50(3).
  2. Harrison, C. J. O. (1974). A re-examination of material of the extinct marabou stork, Leptoptilos falconeri: with descriptions of some new species. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, 94, 42-50.
  3. Noriega, J. I., & Cladera, G. (2008). First record of an extinct marabou stork in the Neogene of South America. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 53(4), 593-601.
  4. Miller, E. R., Rasmussen, D. T., & Simons, E. L. (1997). Fossil storks (Ciconiidae) from the late Eocene and early Miocene of Egypt. Ostrich, 68(1), 23-26.
  5. Dyke, G. J., & Walker, C. A. (2008). New records of fossil ‘waterbirds’ from the Miocene of Kenya. American Museum Novitates, 2008(3610), 1-10.
  6. Meijer, Due, Sutikna, Saptomo, Jatmiko, Wasisto, James, Morwood & Tocheri (2013). "Late Pleistocene-Holocene Non-Passerine Avifauna of Liang Bua (Flores, Indonesia)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 33 (4): 877–894. doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.746941. S2CID 32095824.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Meijer and Due (2010). "A new species of giant marabou stork (Ave: Ciconiiformes) from the Pleistocene of Liang Bua, Flores (Indonesia)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 160 (4): 707–724. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00616.x.
  8. Bridge, L. K., Stroud, D., Galbraith, C. A., & Boere, G. (2006). Waterbirds around the world. The Stationery Office.
  9. Pennycuick, C. J. (1996). Stress and strain in the flight muscles as constraints on the evolution of flying animals. Journal of biomechanics, 29(5), 577-581.
  10. Alonso, J. C., Magaña, M., Alonso, J. A., Palacín, C., Martín, C. A., & Martín, B. (2009). The most extreme sexual size dimorphism among birds: allometry, selection, and early juvenile development in the great bustard (Otis tarda). The Auk, 126(3), 657-665.
  11. Wood, Gerald (1983). The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. ISBN 978-0-85112-235-9.
  12. Hancock, J., Kushlan, J. A., & Kahl, M. P. (2010). Storks, ibises and spoonbills of the world. A&C Black.
  13. Brennand, Emma. "Giant fossil bird found on 'hobbit' island of Flores". BBC.
  14. Boaz, N. T. (1987). Neogene paleontology and geology of Sahabi. AR Liss.
  15. Brown, L. H. (1971). The breeding behaviour of the lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor. Ibis, 113(2), 147-172.
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