Mahnmut Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Hello again, I just read that the American white pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) grows a kind of horn during mating season that is shed when the eggs are laid. Has anyone ever heard of one of those being found fossil, or subfossil? I know that keratin is rarely preserved, I am just curious. Best Regards, J Try to learn something about everything and everything about something Thomas Henry Huxley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thecosmilia Trichitoma Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 I have not heard of any being found. As you said, keratin is rarely preserved as a fossil. 2 It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 Darn Good question. For starters, there aren't many fossil pelicans out there; one of the only fossil pelican skulls with the sort of preservation you seek is this one below. I doubt such a structure would get preserved, especially since it is unique to only a single modern species (no others have this - therefore it is likely to be a geologically very 'shallow' feature that evolved recently), and it is a soft tissue structure. Even then, it would have to be preserved during the mating season. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 Inquiring minds want to know, Bobby... where is this amazing specimen from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahnmut Posted January 27, 2020 Author Share Posted January 27, 2020 Thanks Boesse for your information. That is a nice bird! What I wondered was rather if the single shed horn has been found "subfossilly" , as I read that the recent ones are often found arround the nesting grounds. To find a skull with the horn still in place would indeed be very lucky ( or unlucky from the birds perspective) Best Regards, J Try to learn something about everything and everything about something Thomas Henry Huxley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 1) @Mahnmut Ah, thanks for the clarification - I have no idea. I also don't know if they fall off as a piece, shrink, or are exfoliated in pieces, which would definitely control whether or not you would find them like shed antlers! 2) @jpc The specimen is published by Louchart et al. in Journal of Ornithology (2011) and they state that it is from the Oligocene of France! Despite being shockingly derived/modern it is the oldest known pelican! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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