Extinct water bird
Miobaptus is a fossil genus of grebe that is known from several specimens collected from Czechia and Lake Baikal dating from the Early Miocene to Middle Miocene. Considered to be one of the most primitive genera of grebes, the anatomy of "Miobaptus" suggests it was less adapted for the aquatic mode of life than modern grebes, but had better flight maneuverability.
History.
The holotype species M. walteri was collected from Dolnice and described by Švec (1982). He would later describe more specimens of the species from Bohemia in 1984. A second species M. huzhiricus was described by Zelenkov (2015) from specimens collected from Olkhon Island.
Description.
The distal part in the humeri of "Miobaptus" is different from extant grebes as the surface is flat and overall the wingbones more elongated. In contrast the distal ends in the humeri of extant grebes the surfaces is more concave, and overall they have much shorter wingbones.
Classification.
"Miobaptus" is placed basally in the phylogenetic tree of grebes where similarities have been made between this genus and Palaelodidae. The palaelodids is an extinct family of Phoenicopteriformes where they have been suggested to be the transitional form between flamingos and grebes. Both "Miobaptus" and the palaelodids share several features in the humerus and coracoid. Therefore while "Miobaptus" is similar to "Tachybaptus" there are some differences and any similarity between the two is likely due to plesiomorphic features.
Paleobiology.
"M. walteri" is known from the Aquitanian stage of the Miocene while "M. huzhiricus" is from the boundary line between the Burdigalian and Langhian stages. The presence of this genus in both Europe and Asia at this time is significant as it shows at this time grebes were already spreading across the globe, as well as how the avifaunas were being established to their present in Eurasia. Based on their anatomy it shows that "Miobaptus" was much better capable at flying than modern grebes (though it was not as specialized in being aquatic).
References.
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