The late Oligocene birds of the Créchy quarry (Allier, France), with a description of two new genera (Aves: Pelecaniformes: Phalacrocoracidae, and Anseriformes: Anseranatidae)

Abstract

The Créchy quarry includes several fassiliferous layers, the fauna of which has been dated by micromammals to the latest Oligocene (reference-levels MP 29 and MP 30). Most of the birds belong to the same species as those which are widespread in the early Miocene localities (MN 2a) of the Saint-Gérand-le-Puy area. However, they differ from these Miocene avifaunas by the presence of a primitive form of Phalacrocoracidae, Borvocarbo guilloti n. gen. n. sp., and by a small representative of the Recent family Anseranatidae, Anserpica kiliani n. gen. n. sp. Most of these forms are aquatic birds which probably lived on lakes or on their shores.