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Taphophoyx
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Genus:	†Taphophoyx Steadman & Takano, 2019
Species:	†T. hodgei
Binomial name
†Taphophoyx hodgei Steadman & Takano, 2019

Taphophoyx is an extinct genus of herons in the family Ardeidae. There is only one known species, Taphophoyx hodgei.

Habitat

Taphophoyx hodgei is believed to have lived in wetlands, like the great blue heron does today.

Discovery

T. hodgei was discovered in November 2017 in Montbrook Fossil Site, Florida by volunteers Toni-Ann Benjamin and Sharon Shears. On November 9th, 2017, a complete left coracoid was excavated, and a week later, a complete left scapula, two bones that have significant roles in flight. Taphophoyx is said to have been the first new taxon to have been discovered at Montbrook Site.

Etymology

The name Taphophoyx means "Buried heron" in Greek and Latin, and hodgei is in honor of the landowner of Montbrook, Eddie Hodge, of whom also gives the common name for this species, "Hodge's tiger heron".

Phylogenetics

The phylogenetic affinities of T. hodgei are not well resolved, but there is proof that the tiger herons and the boat-billed heron are the closest relatives of Taphophoyx, mainly evident on the faces articularis.

References

1. Narducci, Rachel (2019). "New heron Taphophoyx hodgei". Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
2. Gillis, Chad (2019). "Ancient heron species discovered North Florida". The News-Press. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
3. Narducci, Rachel. "Featured Fossil heron species discovered North Florida". myFOSSIL. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
4. Dasgupta, Shreya (2019). "Volunteers find bones of New heron species in Florida". Mongabay. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
5. Marchese, Halle (2019). "Museum volunteer species extinct heron". Phys.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
6. Steadman, David; Takano, Oona (April 2019). "A new genus and species of heron (Aves: Ardeidae) from the late Miocene of Florida". Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History. 55 (9): 174–186. doi:10.58782/flmnh.qskt9951. ISSN 2373-9991.

v t e Genera of ibis, herons, pelicans and their extinct allies
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Clade: Aequornithes Order: Pelecaniformes
Pelecaniformes incertae sedis †Cladornis? †Torotigidae? Torotix Pelecani Balaenicipitidae Balaeniceps †Goliathia †Paludiavis Pelecanidae †Eopelecanus †Miopelecanus Pelecanus Scopidae Scopus Ardei See below ↓
Ardei incertae sedis †Ardeacites? †Xenerodiopidae Xenerodiops Threskiornithidae incertae sedis †Gerandibis †Milnea †Mopsitta? †Protibis †Rhynchaeites †Vadaravis †Xenicibis Plataleinae Platalea Threskiornithinae †Apteribis Bostrychia Cercibis Eudocimus Geronticus Lophotibis Mesembrinibis Nipponia Phimosus Plegadis Pseudibis Thaumatibis Theristicus Threskiornis Ardeidae †Ardeagrandis Calherodius †Eoceornis †Matuku †Nyctisoma Oroanassa †Proardeola Agamiinae Agamia Ardeinae Ardea Ardeola Butorides Egretta Gorsachius Nycticorax Nyctanassa Pilherodius †Proardea Syrigma †Zeltornis Zonerodius Botaurinae Botaurus Ixobrychus †Pikaihao Zebrilus Cochleariinae Cochlearius Tigriornithinae †Taphophoyx Tigriornis Tigrisoma

• Ardeidae
• Extinct birds of North America
• Monotypic bird genera
• Birds described in 2019