EARTH SCIENCES

Psittaciformes

Fossil record

To date, the majority of palaeontological evidence is based on very few genetic studies. Fossil parrot remains are rare and those that have been identified are often the subject of much debate. Early Psittaciformes have mainly been found in the northern hemisphere (Walton-on-the-Naze, England;Messel, Germany, etc.), with only a few, relatively recent, essentially modern parrot remains being found within their present range (mainly in tropical and sub-tropical Australasia and South America). These northern European specimens are thought to be by some, as a sister clade to modern Psittaciformes as they lack reduced furculas and the curved bill, but do possess the zygodactyl feet.


The earliest fossil originates from the Early Eocene period approximately 55 million years ago, however some fragmentary fossils, such as a mandible bone, which design is only known to be attributed to the Psittaciforme order, dates from as early as the Late Cretaceous (65 Million years), however whether this truly represents  an early parrot, remains highly controversial.  

Why the lack of fossils?

One could argue that the reason behind the lack of knowledge concerning Psittaciformes is the very low fossil number available to work with. There are several reasons for this low number including the fragility of bird bones (birds have hollow bones) and the fossilisation process itself. It is unlikely that terrestrial environments like subtropical forests and the lifestyle of arboreal birds would allow for the fossilisation process to occur after death. Sites with high success rate of fossilisation will be normally be of an aquatic environment with unusual sedimentary deposition rate, such as the Messal oil shale's of Germany. In the fact that majority of Avifauna fossils are represented by aquatic/semi aquatic species.

• Introduction

• Characters / Anatomy

• Modern forms

• Fossil record

• Controversies and anomalies

• Literature and Web links