Snake-necked [1] [2] ( lat. Anhingidae ) is a family of birds , which according to the results of phylogenetic studies of the beginning of the XXI century are included in the order of gannet (Suliformes) [3] . Previously, it was attributed to the order of pelican-like [2] . It consists of the only modern genus of snakes and a few extinct.
| Anhinga |
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| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
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| International scientific name |
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Anhingidae Reichenbach , 1849 |
| Modern range |
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Geochronologyappeared 23.03 million years | million years | Era | F-d | Era |
|---|
| | Th | TO
but
th
n
about
s
about
th | | 2,588 | | | 5.33 | Pliocene | N
e
about
g
e
n | | 23.03 | Miocene | | 33.9 | Oligocene | P
but
l
e
about
g
e
n | | 55.8 | Eocene | | 65.5 | Paleocene | | 251 | Mesozoic |
◄ Nowadays◄ Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction |
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The earliest fossil finds, referred to as snake-necked, date back to the Lower Miocene (not earlier than 23.03 million years ago). The paleoareal of the family is slightly larger than modern, and includes not only Australia, South and Southeast Asia, Africa, North ( Florida ) and South America, but also Europe ( Hungary and Greece ) [4] .
Both living and extinct members of the family were solitary actively hunting predators [4] .
In addition to the four modern species of snakes [3] , as of February 2019, the following extinct taxa according to the Paleobiology Database website [4] are included in the family:
- Genus Anhinga Brisson, 1760 - Darter (modern)
- † Anhinga beckeri Emslie, 1998
- † Anhinga grandis Martin & Mengel, 1975
- † Anhinga pannonica Lambrecht, 1916
- † Anhinga subvolans Brodkorb, 1956
- † Genus Liptornis
- † Liptornis hesternus Ameghino, 1894
- † Genus Macranhinga Noriega, 1992
In addition to the above, there are other extinct genera - candidates for inclusion in the family [5] :
- † Genus Giganhinga Rinderknecht & Noriega, 2002
- † Genus Protoplotus Lambrecht, 1931
Individual Representatives
- Liptornis hesternus is described by residues found in the Santa Cruz Formation (Middle Miocene of Argentina ) and subsequently lost [6] .
- At least 2 extinct species have been described in the genus : Macranhinga paranensis Noriega, 1992 [7] and Macranhinga ranzii Alvarenga & Guilherme, 2003 [8] . Found in South America, were the largest of all known snake-necked.
