The new taxonomic status of Rhea anchorenensis (Ameghino and Rusconi, 1932)(Aves, Palaeognathae) from the Pleistocene of Argentina

PICASSO, M.B.J.; MOSTO, M.C.

ANNALES DE PALEONTOLOGIE

MASSON EDITEUR

Lugar: Paris; Año: 2016 vol. 102 p. 237 - 241

0753-3969

Rhea anchorenensis (Ameghino and Rusconi, 1932) is an extinct species of Rheidae (Aves, Palaeognathae)from the Pleistocene of Buenos Aires province, Argentina, only known for a distal fragment of a lefttarsometatarsus. Since its description in 1932, this specimen was not analyzed in an adequately com-parative framework with the extant species. This study provides a re-description of this specimen anda comparison with the extant species of Rheidae with the aim of reevaluating its taxonomic identity.The morphological characteristics of the fossil specimen are very similar to those of the extant speciesRhea americana. Consequently, their status as a different species of the genus Rhea is no longer valid andRhea anchorenensis must be considered as junior synonym of R. americana.