New results with regard to the Neogene and Quaternary Avifauna of the Carpathian Basin, Part I

Abstract

During recent years the author has studied a number of fossil bird-bone remains from palaeontological sites in the
Carpathian Basin. Publication of the results of the studies, following the taxonomic order of the remains, is planned in three
papers. Podicipediformes to Galliformes and Tetraondidae form the subject of the first part. The second part will include the
remains of Galliformes to the Charadriiformes, while the third part will concentrate on bird bones from Columbiformes to
Passeriformes. In addition to the detailed description of new taxa, emphasis is placed on species that are already extinct.
In this paper (Part I) the following new fossil species are described: Podiceps csarnotanus n. sp.; Heliadornis minor
n. sp.; Egretta polgardiensis n. sp.; Clangula matraensis n. sp. and Mergus minor n. sp.
While working on recently excavated materials, the author also revised the already published details on extinct
species i.e. details which are the subject of controversial taxonomic positioning. Consequently, the species level of
Ciconia stehlini JÁNOSSY, 1992; Anas albae JÁNOSSY, 1979; Falco tinnunculus atavus JÁNOSSY, 1972; Tetrao
praeurogallus JÁNOSSY, 1969 and Tetrao (Lyrurus) partium KRETZOI, 1962 have been confirmed, while Anser subanser
JÁNOSSY, 1983 and Anas submajor JÁNOSSY, 1979 — up until now ranked among the fossil species — have been
considered as subspecies.
The published fauna list in this paper also includes the following recent taxa: Pelecanus sp., Ardea cinerea, Egretta
sp. (E. alba size), Botaurus sp., Anser anser, Tadorna ferruginea, Anas clypeata, Anas crecca, Anassp. (A. querquedula
size), Anas sp. (A. strepera/A. penelope size), Aythya sp. (A. ferina size), Anatidae sp. indet., Gypaetos barbatus, Aquila
heliaca, Accipiter gentilis, Accipiter nisus, Accipiter sp. (A. nisus size), Buteo lagopus, Buteo sp., Circus sp., Pandion
haliaetus, Falco cf. cherrug, Falco sp. (F. peregrinus size), Tetrao urogallus and Galliformes sp. indet.