Taphophoyx is an extinct genus of herons in the family Ardeidae. There is only one known species, Taphophoyx hodgei.[1]
| Taphophoyx | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Pelecaniformes |
| Family: | Ardeidae |
| Genus: | †Taphophoyx Steadman & Takano, 2019 |
| Species: | †T. hodgei
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Taphophoyx hodgei Steadman & Takano, 2019
| |
Habitat
editTaphophoyx hodgei is believed to have lived in wetlands, like the great blue heron does today.[2]
Discovery
editT. hodgei was discovered in November 2017 in Montbrook Fossil Site, Florida by volunteers Toni-Ann Benjamin and Sharon Shears. On November 9th, 2017, a complete left coracoid was excavated, and a week later, a complete left scapula, two bones that have significant roles in flight.[3] Taphophoyx is said to have been the first new taxon to have been discovered at Montbrook Site.[4]
Etymology
editThe name Taphophoyx means "Buried heron" in Greek and Latin, and hodgei is in honor of the landowner of Montbrook, Eddie Hodge, of whom also gives the common name for this species, "Hodge's tiger heron".[5]
Phylogenetics
editThe phylogenetic affinities of T. hodgei are not well resolved, but there is proof that the tiger herons and the boat-billed heron are the closest relatives of Taphophoyx, mainly evident on the faces articularis.[6]
References
edit- ^ Narducci, Rachel (2019). "New heron Taphophoyx hodgei". Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Gillis, Chad (2019). "Ancient heron species discovered North Florida". The News-Press. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Narducci, Rachel. "Featured Fossil heron species discovered North Florida". myFOSSIL. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Dasgupta, Shreya (2019). "Volunteers find bones of New heron species in Florida". Mongabay. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Marchese, Halle (2019). "Museum volunteer species extinct heron". Phys.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Steadman, David; Takano, Oona (April 2019). "A new genus and species of heron (Aves: Ardeidae) from the late Miocene of Florida". Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History. 55 (9): 174–186. doi:10.58782/flmnh.qskt9951. ISSN 2373-9991.