Paraphysornis Alvarenga, 1993

Alvarenga, Herculano M. F. & Höfling, Elizabeth, 2003, Systematic Revision Of The Phorusrhacidae (Aves: Ralliformes), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 43 (4), pp. 55-91 : 69-70

Genus Paraphysornis Alvarenga, 1993

Type Species – Physornis brasiliensis Alvarenga, 1982 . Included Species – Only the type species.

Distribution – Upper Oligocene or the Lower Miocene of Southeast Brazil.

Diagnosis – Maybe the smallest of the Brontornithinae , the size being comparable to that of a smaller-sized Brontornis burmeisteri ( Figs. 1B and 2B ). The mandibular symphysis is longer and narrower than in the remaining Brontornithinae (e. g. Alvarenga, 1993: Fig. 1 ), being, however, proportionally wider and shorter than in the Phorusrhacinae . The cotyles of the tarsometatarsus are slightly quadrangular, especially the inner one (e. g. Alvarenga, 1993: Fig. 2 ).The lateral edge of the hypotarsus expands until very near to the lateral part of the lateral cotyle, not forming the lateral crest characteristic of Physornis .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Reproduction (by E. Brettas) of some Phorusrhacidae keeping the due proportion as to size. The silhouette of a man 1.75 m high is used as a scale. A - Brontornis burmeisteri; B - Paraphysornis brasiliensis; C - Phorusrhacos longissimus; D - Andalgalornis steuletti; E - Psilopterus bachmanni; F - Psilopterus lemoinei; G - Procariama simplex; H - Mesembriornis milneedwardsi.

FIGURE 2. Dorsal view of the tarsometatarsi of the Brontornithinae (A-D) and Phorusrhacinae (E-F):A - Physornis fortis (MACN-A-52-185); B - Paraphysornis brasiliensis (DGM-1418-R); C - Brontornis burmeisteri (FM-P13259); D - Brontornis burmeisteri (lectotype MLP-91); E - Phorusrhacos longissimus (MLP-76.V.10.11, type of Liornis minor Dolgopol de Saez, 1927); F - Devincenzia pozzi (MNHN-M-189, type of Devincenzia gallinali Kraglievich, 1932).A-D left side; E-F right side.