Title:

New remains of Struthio coppensi, Early Miocene, Namibia

Publication Year:
2023
Abstract:

Field surveys over the past decade in the Sperrgebiet, Namibia, have led to the recovery of additional fossil remains of the Early Miocene ostrich, Struthio coppensi Mourer-Chauviré et al. 1996, including three fossils from a locality, Grillental VI, from which the species had not previously been recorded. Among the new material, there are two pedal phalanges and a cervical vertebra, as well as additional leg bones (tibiotarsus, tarsometatarsus). Descriptions and illustrations are provided of the material, which conform in dimensions and morphology with what would be expected for Struthio coppensi, which had ca 65% the dimensions of the extant ostrich, Struthio camelus. Keywords : ostrich, early miocene, osteology, body size, Africa.

Publication Title:
Communications of the Geological Survey of Namibia
Volume:
26
Pages:
21-33
Item Type:
Journal Article
Language:
en