A single fossil tarsometatarsus from the Etadunna Formation, of Late Oligocene—Early Miocene age, at the Snake Dam Locality in South Australia reveals the first pre-Pliocene record of anhingids in Australia. Anhinga walterbolesi sp. nov. provides the oldest record globally for the Anhingidae and, with the contemporary presence of stem-group phalacrocoracids in the same formation, indicates a probable Early Oligocene to Eocene age for the common ancestor of anhingids and phalacrocoracids.
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The Auk
Vol. 129 • No. 1
January 2012
Vol. 129 • No. 1
January 2012
Anhinga
bird fossil
Oligo-Miocene
South Australia