Comparisons.—This interesting specimen, although considerably worn, clearly has the overall "graculavid" morphology but shows sufficient differences from the humeri of Telmatornis or Anatalavis to warrant its generic separation from them. In size it is about equal to the modern form Burhinus bistriatus vocifer and hence would be compatible with P. littoralis. It differs from Telmatornis, Anatalavis, or Presbyornis, and is more similar to Burhinus in having (1) the brachial depression wider, shallower, and more proximally situated. Although affected by wear, (2) the dorsal condyle is nevertheless considerably smaller and not produced as far proximally as in any of the preceding genera, although Presbyornis is more similar in this respect than the others. In distal view the specimen is more similar to Presbyornis than to the other Cretaceous humeri, although (3) the olecranal fossa is shallower. If this specimen is correctly referred to Palaeotringa, it shows that genus to be distinct from any of the others yet known in the fauna except possibly Graculavus, for which the distal end of the humerus is unknown.
Palaeotringa vagans Marsh, 1872
Figure 7m
Palaeotringa vagans Marsh, 1872:365.
Holotype.—Fragmented distal two-thirds of a left tibiotarsus lacking the external condyle and the anterior portion of the internal condyle, YPM 835.
Locality and Horizon.—From Hornerstown, Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey; collected by J.G. Meirs; Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), "about ten feet below the surface of the marl" (Marsh, 1872:365), either basal Hornerstown Formation or Navesink Formation.
Measurements (in mm).—Width of shaft just proximal to external condyle 5.8.
Comparisons.—This very unsatisfactory specimen comes from a species smaller than P. littoralis and larger than P. vetus (= Telmatornis priscus). It differs from the latter and agrees with P. littoralis in having the distal tendinal opening of a flattened oval shape, rather than decidedly rounded. If we have correctly referred P. vetus to Telmatornis priscus, then it is certain that neither of the other two species of Palaeotringa can be referred to Telmatornis. In P. vagans the tendinal groove appears to be much narrower and the bridge much deeper than in P. littoralis, but this is in part due to damage and possible immaturity in the latter specimen, so it remains possible that these species are in fact congeneric. The species P. vagans can be retained as it is smaller than any of the other graculavids in the fauna except T. priscus, from which it is generically distinct.
Graculavidae, Genus and Species Indeterminate
Figure 9b,c