Palaelodus (Aves: Palaelodidae) from the Middle to Late Cainozoic of Australia

Skeletal elements of the extinct family Palaelodidae have only been recorded from Australia since 1982. We describe Palaelodus pledgei n. sp. and P. wilsoni n. sp., two new species of palaelodid from Cooper Creek, and Lakes Palankarinna, Pinpa and Yanda in northern South Australia. The material differs from European species in both mensural and morphological characters and constitutes the smallest and the largest species in the genus. These species clearly belong in the genus Palaelodus, rather than Megapaloelodus, based upon the gracile nature of the elements. Palaelodus wilsoni extends the chronological range of the family to the Middle Pleistocene. Owing to differences in the European and Australian species the material is considered to be of little use in intercontinental correlation. Palaeoenvironmental factors responsible for the extinction of the Palaelodidae in Australia may be similar to those speculated for the Phoenicopteridae, namely the loss of lake full levels at the end of the Pleistocene, ...