Small Ducks (Aves: Anatidae) from the Early–Middle Miocene of Eurasia. 3. A Revision of Mionetta natator (Milne-Edwards, 1867)

Abstract

Abstract: The results of a taxonomic and morphological revision of Mionetta natator (Milne-Edwards, 1867) from the lower Miocene of Western and Central Europe are presented. It is shown that the collections of small ducks from the Saint-Gérand-le-Puy localities (France) do indeed contain a small species of the genus Mionetta, which is here described as Mionetta defossa sp. nov. However, Mionetta natator represents a separate taxon, and is here assigned to the genus Caerulonettion gen. nov., showing morphological similarities with extant Malacorhynchus and fossil Mioquerquedula spp. The first small ducks from the lower Miocene of Kazakhstan are also described (Aral Formation, the Agyspe and Altynshokysu localities; Akzhar Formation, the Golubye Peski locality), tentatively attributed to Mionetta defossa and Mionetta sp. The diversity and relationships of small ducks of the Early and Middle Miocene of Eurasia are discussed.