The fossil record of birds from the James Ross Basin, West Antarctica

Abstract

The fossil record of birds from Antarctica is concentrated in the James Ross Basin, located in north-east of the Antarctic Peninsula. Birds are here represented by an extensive Paleogene record of penguins (Sphenisciformes) and Cretaceous–Paleogene record of Anseriformes, followed by other groups with a minor representation (Procellariiformes, Falconiformes, and Pelagornithidae), and others previously assigned controversially to “Ratites”, Threskiornithidae, Charadriiformes, Gruiformes, Phoenicopteriformes, and Gaviiformes. We provide a complete update of these records, commenting on the importance of some of these remains for the evolution of the major clades.