Re: Giant Extinct Australian Geese

["Williams, Tim" <TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu>]

>What do they mean by "goose"? Is it an actual anserine, or just an
> anseriform (a gastornithid?)?

"Anseriform" or "anseriform relative", as I understand it.  AFAIK, "goose"
is just to underline the point that the dromornithids (_Dromornis_,
Genyornis_, _Bullockornis_, _Barawertornis_, _Ilbandornis_) are probably
more closely related to the Anseriformes (sucks, geese, swans, screamers)
than to the ratites (ostriches, rheas, emus, kiwis, moas, elephantbirds).
However, I don't know if anyone has ever actually proposed putting the
dromornithids WITHIN the Anseriformes.  Please correct me if I'm wrong...

Interestingly, as certain studies have found Anseriformes to be basal
Neognathae, the Dromornithidae may not be too far removed phylogenetically
(and morphologically as well?) from the Palaeognathae (ratites+tinamous).

(BTW, Gastornithids are diatrymiforms, not anseriforms.)
 
>  Big-time Gastornis/Diatryma deja vu going on there. Could the
>  diet be determined from the more recent specimens? DV

There may be some variation within the family on that score.  According to
one source, amino acid analysis of eggshells attributed to _Genyornis_
indicates a herbivorous diet.  And dromornithid talons don't appear designed
for shredding prey.  But look at the jaws of _Bullockornis_ - could it be
anything other than a carnivore?.  Stephen Wroe has a nice paper out on this
- can't recall the title, but I know it's mentioned somewhere in the
archives.  Dr Wroe pops up on the DML occasionally - oh, speak of the
devil...



Tim


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Timothy J. Williams, Ph.D. 

USDA-ARS Researcher 
Agronomy Hall 
Iowa State University 
Ames IA 50014 

Phone: 515 294 9233 
Fax:   515 294 9359