The skull of a fossil Prion (Aves: Procellariiformes) from the Neogene (Late Miocene) of northern Chile

Abstract

The fossil skull of a procellariid, Pachyptila sp., from Late Miocene marine sediments of the Bahía Inglesa Formation (Midde Miocene-Pliocene) of Northern Chile is described. The fossil is compared with extant species of the family Procellariidae. This discovery represents the first Neogene fossil record of the genus Pachyptila from South America.