Protostrigidae
Temporal range: Eocene to Oligocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: †Protostrigidae
Genera

Protostrigidae is a prehistoric family of owls which occurred in North America, Europe,[1] and Asia[2] during the Eocene and early Oligocene periods.[1] Genera include Eostrix, Minerva, Oligostrix,[1] and Primoptynx.[3] In 1983, Cécile Mourer-Chauviré demonstrated that Protostrix is a junior synonym of Minerva.[1]

Protostrigidae characteristics include strong first and second toes as well as a widened medial condyle of the tibiotarsus.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Gerald Mayr (1 April 2009). Paleogene Fossil Birds. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 164–165. ISBN 9783540896289. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. ^ Geral Mayr (October 2016). "The world's smallest owl, the earliest unambiguous charadriiform bird, and other avian remains from the early Eocene Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia (USA)" (PDF). Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  3. ^ Primoptynx poliotauros:
    Gerald Mayr, Philip D. Gingerich, Thierry Smith: Skeleton of a new owl from the early Eocene of North America (Aves, Strigiformes) with an accipitrid-like foot morphology, in: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, published online July 28, 2020; doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1769116.
    55-Million-Year-Old Fossil of Large-Sized Owl Found in Wyoming, on: sci-news, Jul 31, 2020.


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