The cretaceous birds of New Jersey

"The Cretaceous Birds of New Jersey" by Storrs L. Olson and David C. Parris is a scientific publication written in the late 20th century. The book focuses on the fossil bird species found in Late Cretaceous deposits from New Jersey, specifically examining the diversity and morphological characteristics of these ancient avifaunas. These birds represent an important aspect of both avian evolution and the geological history of the region. The book provides a comprehensive revision of previously named taxa, adding newly collected specimens from the Inversand Company marl pits. It details around 8 genera and 9 species of Cretaceous birds, mostly primitive Charadriiformes, and introduces "Anatalavis rex", a new genus, alongside a proposal for a new family, genus, and species (Tytthostonychidae, "Tytthostonyx glauconiticus"). The authors compare the fossilized remains with modern birds, discussing their evolutionary significance, including bodies similar to the modern Burhinidae and connections to more archaic lineages. By analyzing the fossilized avifauna, the book enhances our understanding of the adaptive radiation of birds during the late Mesozoic era. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Storrs Lovejoy Olson was an American biologist and ornithologist who spent his career at the Smithsonian Institution, retiring in 2008. One of the world's foremost avian paleontologists, he was best known for his studies of fossil and subfossil birds on islands such as Ascension, St. Helena and Hawaii. His early higher education took place at Florida State University in 1966, where he obtained a B.A. in biology, and the University of Florida, where he received an M.S. in biology. Olson's doctoral studies took place at Johns Hopkins University, in what was then the School of Hygiene and Public Health. He was married to fellow paleornithologist Helen F. James.