Eocene fossil feather from King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Mansilla, Héctor G., Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang, Varela, Natalia, Leppe, Marcelo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2013
• Subjects: Geology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Oceanography; King George Island; South Shetland Islands; Fildes; Fildes peninsula; Fossil Hill; Antarc*; Antarctic Science; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102013000771; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102013000771

Abstract The first fossil avian feather from Antarctica is reported here, from the early to middle Eocene Fossil Hill Formation at Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Characteristics such as its form, asymmetry of vanes, closed-pennaceous vanes with barbules and a deep ventral groove indicate that the feather was used for flight. The site from which the feather was collected is known to yield a variety of well-preserved trace fossils, palaeobotanical and palaeoenvironmental remains, suggesting a shorebird ecotype for the owner of this feather, certainly belonging to a Neornithes. The continental position, preservation as an external mould and type of feather makes this specimen a novel and an exceedingly rare record.