| Caerulonettion | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | †Caerulonettion Zelenkov,2023 |
| Species: | †C. natator |
| Binomial name | |
| †Caerulonettion natator (Zelenkov, 2023) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Caerulonettion (meaning "tealteal") is anextinct genus ofanatid birds from theMiocene Epoch of Europe. The genus contains a single species,C. natator, known from various limb and girdle bones. TheCaerulonettion fossil material was originally assigned to various other anatid genera before being recognized as a distinct genus.
Fossil material assigned toCaerulonettion has been found in Early Miocene rocks of France and the Czech Republic, as well as early Middle Miocene rocks of Southern Germany. Thelectotype specimen,MNHN Av-6428, consists of a leftulna found in theSaint-Gérand-le-Puy fossil locality of France. Additional bones known from nearby localities include rightcoracoids,humeri,ulnae,carpometacarpi,femora, andtibiotarsi. Partial left coracoids from theSandelshausen locality of Germany and theDolniche locality of Czech Republic have also been assigned toCaerulonettion.[1]
Before being assigned to its own distinct genus, the fossil material was first considered to be a species ofAnas in 1867,Querquedula in 1964,Dendrochen in 1983, andMionetta from 1988 to 2023.[1]
In 2023, Nikita ZelenkovdescribedCaerulonettion natator as a new combination for the extinct duck "Mionetta"natator based on these fossil remains. Thegeneric name, "Caerulonettion", combines theLatin wordcaeruleus, the name of ateal orazure color, andNettion, an obsolete genus name forextantteals, which is derived from theGreek "nēttion", meaning "small duck".[1][2] Thespecific name, "natator", means "swimmer" in Latin.[3]
The preserved coracoids ofCaerulonettion are proportionally and structurally similar to those seen in the extantMalacorhynchus (pink-eared duck) of Australia. However, sinceCaerulonettion is only known from limited fossil material, it is not known if the two genera arephylogenetically close. Zelenkov (2023) interpreted the similar coracoid structure as being aplesiomorphic trait. The coracoids of thePinpanetta tedfordi, one of the oldest anatids, are also generally similar. Zelenkov further suggested thatCaerulonettion represents a morederived anatid thanMionetta, and a possible ancestor of theMiddle MioceneMioquerquedula.[1]
