Comprehensive Description
provided by Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769)
MATERIAL.—Pindai Cave: right tarsometatarsus, left carpometacarpus, 2 coracoids (juvenile).
Gilles Cave, upper layer: 2 crania, quadrate, premaxilla, sternum, 5 scapulae, furcula, 13 coracoids, 20 humeri, 16 ulna, 5 radii, 5 metacarpi, 2 carpometacarpi, 34 femora, 24 tibiotarsi, 24 tarsometatarsi.
MEASUREMENTS (mm).—Pindai: length of tarsometatarsus, 62.2; length of carpometacarpus, 44.6.
Gilles (measurements are means): cranium width, 36.9; quadrate height, 10.3; premaxilla length, 26.4; length of keel of sternum, 30.5; length of furcula, 35.3; length of scapula, 40.9; length of coracoid, 35.0; length of humerus, 86.3; length of ulna, 97.8; length of carpometacarpus, 44.7; length of pelvis, 54.3; length of femur, 52.0; length of tibiotarsus, 92.3; length of tarsometatarsus, 62.7.
COMPARATIVE MATERIAL.—See Tyto? letocarti, new species.
STATUS.—Extant, cosmopolitan species; common.
MATERIAL.—Pindai Cave: left femur (NCP 662), left tibiotarsus (NCP 660), distal end of right tibiotarsus (NCP 661).
Gilles Cave, upper layer: proximal half of right ulna.
MEASUREMENTS.—See Table 9.
COMPARATIVE MATERIAL.—Ninox novaeseelandiae, 1 USNM; N. boobook (Latham), 1 USNM; N. scutulata (Raffles), 2 USNM.
STATUS.—Extinct?; known in New Caledonia only from fossils.
- bibliographic citation
- Balouet, Jean Christophe and Olson, Storrs L. 1989. "Fossil birds from late Quaternary deposits in New Caledonia." Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-38. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.469
