Neanis

Extinct genus of birds

Neanis
Temporal range: Early Eocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Picodynastornithes
Order: Piciformes (?)
Genus: Neanis
Shufeldt, 1913
Species

Neanis schucherti (type)
"Neanis" kistneri (see text)

Neanis is an extinct genus of bird probably related to woodpeckers and toucans. It contains at least one species, N. schucherti; N. kistneri resembles this, but it probably belongs to a distinct genus and may not be closely related. Both are known from the Late Wasatchian (51-52 MYA) stratum of the Early Eocene Green River Formation of the Western-Central USA. "N." kistneri is known from one fairly complete, but not very well preserved skeleton, whereas of N. schucherti even less material was found.

The systematic assignment of the genus (apart from the problems posed by "N." kistneri) is not well resolved. Initially, the genus (at that time only comprising the type species) was considered to be a passeriform. "N." kistneri was described 60 years later as a species of the genus Primobucco, which then thought to be related to woodpeckers because it had a zygodactyl foot or at least could turn the outer toe backwards; some years later, several genera (including Primobucco and Neanis) were put into a new family, the Primobucconidae, which were thought to be a primitive kind of puffbird.

However, it is now known that the primobucconids as originally defined were a paraphyletic assemblage including taxa as diverse as Coliiformes and Coraciiformes. Indeed, the only remaining genus of the family is Primobucco (without kistneri), and the family as such has been moved to the Coraciiformes. The closest relatives of Neanis schucherti may be the Piciformes, or it might be an ancestral form in the piciform-coraciiform radiation. "N." kistneri seems more closely related to piciform birds. Neanis schucherti appears to share some traits with Hassiavis and might even be a cypselomorph

References

  • Shufeldt, W. (1913): Fossil feathers and some heretofore undescribed fossil birds. J. Geology 21: 628–652.
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Genera of trogons, hornbills, kingfishers, woodpeckers and their extinct allies
Leptosomiformes
Leptosomidae
Eucavitaves
Trogoniformes
Trogonidae
Picocoraciae
Bucerotiformes
    • See below ↓
Picodynastornithes
Coraciiformes
    • See below ↓
Piciformes
    • See below ↓
Pharomachrus mocinno
Laurillardiidae
  • Laurillardia
Messelirrisoridae
Upupi
Phoeniculidae
Upupidae
Buceroti
Bucorvidae
Bucerotidae
​​Penelopides manillae
incertae sedis
  • Cryptornis
  • Paracoracias
  • Quasisyndactylus
Eocoraciidae
Geranopteridae
Primobucconidae
Brachypteraciidae
Coraciidae
Meropidae
Alcedines
Alcedinidae
Alcedininae
Cerylinae
Halcyoninae
Momotidae
Todidae
​​Septencoracias morsensis

​​Merops bulocki

Ceyx cyanopectus
incertae sedis
  • "Homalopus"
Gracilitarsidae
  • Gracilitarsus
  • Neanis
Sylphornithidae
Galbuli
  • Jacamatia
Bucconidae
Galbulidae
Pici
incertae sedis
Miopiconidae
  • Miopico
Picavidae
Ramphastides
Capitonidae
Lybiidae
Megalaimidae
Ramphastidae
Semnornithidae
Picides
Indicatoridae
Picidae
    • See below ↓
Galbula hylochoreutes

Galbula tombacea Psilopogon faber&Psilopogon nuchalis

Ramphastos sulfuratus
incertae sedis
  • Bitumenpicus
  • Breacopus
  • Palaeonerpes
  • Palaeopicus
  • Piculoides
Jynginae
Picumninae
  • Picumnus
Sasiinae
Picinae
  • Australopicus
  • Palaeonerpes
  • Pliopicus
Nesoctitini
Hemicircini
Picini
Campephilini
Melanerpini
Campephilus principalis
Taxon identifiers
Neanis
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