Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 80 (2): 255-259, 2007
FORUM
On the precense of Paraptenodytes y Palaeospheniscus (Aves:
Sphenisciformes) on the Bahia Inglesa Formation, Chile
The present comment was motivated by the article by Acosta-Hospitaleche & Canto
(2005), and from the direct observation of some specimens of Sphenicidae previously reported for the Bahia Inglesa Formation, in the
Atacama region, Chile. The lack of morphological characters that they allow the differentiation with the genus Spheniscus
and of associate diagnostic remains discard the assignment of cranial materials to Palaeospheniscus. Equally it is
not possible to corroborate the assignment of specimens to Paraptenodytes, being suggested the use of Spheniscidae
indet. aff. Paraptenodytes for an isolated tarsometatarsus. It is also suggested the use of Spheniscus spp. for
the specimens previously referred to S. cf. chilensis and S. aff. humboldti. This
way, the number of penguins registered in the formation decreases from nine to seven.
Key words:
Palaeospheniscus, Paraptenodytes, Spheniscus, Bahia Inglesa Formation, fossil
penguins
