Talpanas Iwaniuk, Olson & James, 2009, new genus

• Main Authors: Iwaniuk, Andrew N., Olson, Storrs L., James, Helen F.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2009
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Aves; Anseriformes; Anatidae; Talpanas; Anser fabalis
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6213657; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/03872117FC59FFBD4AB7F8E4A88DF4EA

Genus Talpanas new genus (Olson & James) Type species. Talpanas lippa Olson and James, new species, by original designation. Included species. Type species only. Distribution. Kauai, Hawaiian Islands. Etymology. L. talpa (f.) a mole, plus anas (f.), a duck, in allusion to the greatly reduced size of the eyes. The gender is feminine. Among mammals, the closest analog of the new genus of duck in the appearance of the cranium, as well as in the similarity in trigeminal enlargement (Home 1802), is the platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus ), an alternate vernacular of which among Australian colonists was "duck-mole." The reduced eyes and poor vision of moles (Talpidae) are well known. Diagnosis. Anatidae with braincase very broad and dorsoventrally compressed, with greatly reduced orbits. Maxillo-mandibular foramen and foramen n. olfactorii greatly enlarged relative to all other waterfowl. The orbit is greatly reduced in size and laterally displaced, allowing the nasal cavity to extend caudally and directly abut the brain cavity. There is consequently no mesethmoidal sulcus for the olfactory nerves, whereas in other anatids the orbit separates the olfactory and brain cavities, requiring long olfactory nerves to traverse the orbit. The nasal gland depressions are seated against extensive flat surfaces of the frontal that face laterad, whereas in most other Anatidae these depressions face dorsad. continued next page continued next page continued next page continued next page Species n nV foramen nII foramen Foramen magnum Palatine angle (mm2) (mm2) (mm2) (°) Anas versicolor 4 4.5 6.8 25.6 23.3 Anas wyvilliana 4 4.5 7.9 31.6 23.2 Anser albifrons 4 3.6 9.2 59.1 22.4 Anser anser 4 4.7 12.4 65.5 29.0 Anser caerulescens 4 4.7 10.2 53.7 26.0 Anser canagicus 4 4.9 10.2 53.3 22.0 Anser cygnoides 2 8.1 10.6 74.0 26.5 Anser fabalis 6 3.9 11.8 53.4 26.4 Anser indicus 2 3.7 12.1 59.1 24.7 Anser rossii 4 3.0 8.9 39.9 22.1 Anseranas semipalmata 3 6.2 9.7 45.6 26.0 Aythya affinis 5 4.0 7.4 32.2 27.2 Aythya americana 4 4.1 8.5 43.9 ...