Reappraisal on the Phylogenetic Relationships of the Enigmatic Flightless Bird (Brontornis burmeisteri) Moreno and Mercerat, 1891

Abstract

The fossil record of birds in South America is still very patchy. One of the most remarkable birds found in Miocene deposits from Patagonia is Brontornis burmeisteri Moreno and Mercerat, 1891. This giant flightless bird is known by multiple incomplete specimens that represent a few portions of the skeleton, mainly hindlimb bones. Since the XIX century, Brontornis was considered as belonging to or closely related to phorusrhacoid birds. In contrast to previous work, by the end of 2000 decade it was proposed that Brontornis belongs to Galloanserae. This proposal was recently contested based on a large dataset including both phorusrhacoids and galloanserine birds, that concluded Brontornis was nested among cariamiform birds, and probably belonged to phorusrhacoids. The aim of the present contribution is to re-evaluate the phylogenetic affinities of Brontornis. Based on modified previous datasets, it is concluded that Brontornis does belong to Galloanserae, and that it represents a member of a largely unknown radiation of giant graviportal birds from South America.