Abstract

SEIJAS, Susana  and  TREJO, Ana. Clave para la identificación de los Passeriformes del Noroeste Patagónico en base a la osteología craneal. Hornero [online]. 2011, vol.26, n.2, pp.129-147. ISSN 0073-3407.

Identification key for Passeriformes from Northwestern Patagonia based on the osteology of the skull. Bird bone remains represent a common material for biological, paleontological and archaeological studies in Patagonia, although their taxonomical identification is problematic due to the lack of specific studies and the scarcity of reference collections in Argentina. A dichotomous key for the identification of 13 families of the order Passeriformes from norwesthern Patagonia was elaborated using skull osteological characters from dead adult birds. For key elaboration, different features and structures were considered, especially those preserved in good conditions after overcoming taphonomic barriers and digestive processes, decomposition and cleaning processes. The selected morphological characters allow the identification of poorly preserved material, as well as bone remains related to paleontological and archaeological sites, which potentiates the scope of the key.

Keywords : Dichotomous key; Osteological study; Patagonian passeriformes; Skull.

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