| Protoplotus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Suliformes |
| Family: | †Protoplotidae van Tets, Rich, & Marino, 1989 |
| Genus: | †Protoplotus Lambrecht, 1931 |
| Species: | †P. beauforti |
| Binomial name | |
| †Protoplotus beauforti Lambrecht, 1931 | |
Protoplotus (meaning "originalPlotus") is anextinctgenus ofwaterbird that inhabited Indonesia during the early-midCenozoic, most likely during theEocene.[1] It contains a single species,P. beauforti (named afterLieven Ferdinand de Beaufort) known from a largely complete, well-preserved skeleton from theSangkarewang Formation of Indonesia. It is the only member of the familyProtoplotidae and, depending on age, one of the earliest knownSuliformes.[2][3][4]
Protoplotus was a rather small waterbird that inhabited the freshwaterrift lake where the Sangkarewang Formation would be deposited. It closely resembled and likely had a similar lifestyle to moderncormorants anddarters, and for a while was considered to belong to theAnhingidae. However, more recent studies have found it to be distinct from both, and it is now placed in its own family, which is though to be related to both cormorants and anhingas.[4]
Uniquely, the single fossil skeleton ofProtoplotus preservesgastroliths. This suggests that it may have seasonally switched its diet from fish to fruit.[4][5]