Bustards (Aves: Otididae) from the Middle Miocene of Mongolia

Fossil remains of bustards (Otidiformes) from the Middle Miocene Sharga locality in western Mongolia are represented by Shargaotis ignipes gen. et sp. nov. and another undetermined form similar to modern Lophotis. These finds are among the oldest in the fossil record of Otididae, which confirm the wide distribution of bustards in Inner Asia in the second half of the Middle Miocene. In addition, Shargaotis ignipes is here considered the oldest morphologically diagnosable stem member of the Otis + Chlamydotis clade.