Neurocranial and brain anatomy of a late Miocene eagle (Aves, Accipitridae) from Patagonia

Abstract

The neurocranial fragment from the Late Miocene (Huayquerian SALMA, 9,0 to 6,8 Ma) of Estancia La Pastosa new locality, Puerto Madryn Formation, Patagonia, Argentina, is described. This is the first available fossil skull of Accipitridae in South America. Features as the elongated-triangular shape of the cranial roof, vast separation between the processus postorbitalis and between both fossae temporalis, and narrow and acuminate outline of the fossa temporalis allow to assign the fossil to Accipitridae Vieilloit, 1816. The well-preserved cavum cranii allowed construction of an endocast that partially reflects brain anatomy. The latter is very similar to those of extant and fossil species of Accipitridae. This fossil eagle is the only predator recorded at this new Miocene locality thus far. © 2009 by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.