A new species of Oligo-Miocene darter (Aves: Anhingidae) from Australia

Abstract

A single fossil tarsometatarsus from the Etadunna Formation, of Late Oligocene–Early Miocene age, at the Snake Dam Locality in South Australia reveals the ï¬ rst pre-Pliocene record of anhingids in Australia. Anhinga walterbolesi sp. nov. provides the oldest record globally for the Anhingidae and, with the contemporary presence of stem-group phalacrocoracids in the same formation, indicates a probable Early Oligocene to Eocene age for the common ancestor of anhingids and phalacrocoracids.