Bermuteo avivorus (Bermuda Hawk)

[adzebill]

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington
A New Genus and Species of Buteonine Hawk from Quaternary Deposits in Bermuda (Aves: Accipitridae)
Storrs L. Olson

Bermuteo avivorus, new genus and species, is described from rare Quaternary fossils from the island of Bermuda. Although clearly referable to the Buteoninae, its relationships within that group are difficult to assess. Considerable size variation may be attributable to sexual dimorphism associated with bird-catching behavior. It is uncertain if the species survived into the historic period. Factors contributing to the rarity of hawk remains in the fossil record of Bermuda are discussed. One fragmentary ulna is from a larger hawk, possibly the Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis.

[Melanie]

Fulltext

si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/6482/1/VZ_372_Bermuteo.pdf

[another specialist]

The Bermuda Hawk, Bermuteo avivorus, known from Late Quaternary bones from Bermuda (W Atlantic), might have survived to the early 17th century

schools-wikipedia.org/wp/l/List_of_extinct_birds.htm

[Melanie]

si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/6482/1/VZ_372_Bermuteo.pdf

[Peter]

Although the remains of this hawk have not been found in recent fossil beds, which may suggest a natural extinction event, an account from 1603 by Diego Ramirez mentioned that on Bermuda 'there are many very large dark herons, many very handsome sparrow-hawks, so stupid that we even clubbed them' (quoted from Olson 2008b). This may represent an endemic hawk without fear for humans, i.e. Bermuda Hawk; all migrant birds of prey would surely have been less easy to approach.

Source: Hume J.P. & Walters M. (2012). Extinct birds. London: T & AD Poyser, 544 pp.

Reference mentioned by source: Olson, Storrs L. (2008). A new genus and species of buteonine hawk from Quaternary deposits in Bermuda (Aves: Accipitridae). Proccedings of the Biological Society of Washington 121(1): 130-141

[amongthylacines]

Why a new genus ? Anyone ?

[Peter]

Sept 19, 2013 22:36:27 GMT amongthylacines said:

Why a new genus ? Anyone ?

According to Olson (2008) "Because the scant material cannot at this point be assigned with confidence to any existing genus, a new genus becomes expedient until more specimens should indicate an alternative." And "Differs from all other genera of hawks examined in the head of the femur, which is relatively smaller and not spherical and ball-like in all views but somewhat flattened proximo-distally, in posterior view with the distal margin nearly continuous with the posterior crest of the neck".

[Peter]

Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Animalia Chordata Aves Accipitriformes Accipitridae

Scientific Name: Bermuteo avivorus
Species Authority: Olson, 2008
Common Name(s):
English – Bermuda Hawk

Taxonomic Source(s): del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International.
Taxonomic Notes: Bermuteo avivorus (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was newly described from fossil deposits by Olson (2008).

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Extinct ver 3.1
Year Published: 2014
Date Assessed: 2014-07-24
Assessor(s): BirdLife International
Reviewer(s): Butchart, S.
Facilitator/Compiler(s): Taylor, J. & Symes, A.
Justification:
This raptor was recently-described from fossil records, and is thought to relate to raptors observed on Bermuda in 1603. It is long Extinct.

Geographic Range
Range Description: Bermuteo avivorus occurred on Bermuda, where it is known from fossil records and is thought to account for observations of raptors on the island in 1603. Its time of extinction is not known but presumably followed human settlement in the early 17th century and may have been the result of hunting and the introduction of invasive species.
Countries occurrence:

Regionally extinct:
Bermuda
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Threats
Major Threat(s): The cause of extinction is unknown, but may have been a combination of hunting for food and the introduction of feral pigs and other animals.

Bibliography
IUCN. 2014. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 24 July 2014).
Olson, S. L. 2008. A new genus and species of buteonine hawk from Quaternary deposits in Bermuda (Aves: Accipitridae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 121(1): 130-141.
 

Citation: BirdLife International. 2014. Bermuteo avivorus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T62183030A62183852. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-2.RLTS.T62183030A62183852.en. Downloaded on 21 November 2015.