Palaeortyx Milne-Edwards, 1869

† Palaeortyx Milne-Edwards, 1869

† Palaeortyx gallica Milne-Edwards, 1869 / syn. P. intermedia Ballmann, 1969 / † Coturnix gallica ( Milne-Edwards, 1869) , (Mlíkovskỳ 2002).

Location and age: Beremend 38; Lower Pliocene (MN16).

Material: 1 distal right tarsometatarsus ( Figure 2 View FIGURE 2 /5).

Dimensions (in mm): tarsometatarsus: E—3.5, F—6.7, G—5.0.

Description: The description was given by Göhlich and Mourer-Chauviré (2005). Within the extinct pheasant species, the Palaeortyx species are distinct both in size and in anatomical characters. Palaeortyx gallica is a mediumsized extinct pheasant species within the Palaeortyx genus. This species is slightly larger in size than P. brevipes , but much smaller than P. phasianoides . In P. gallica , the tarsometatarsus has an anatomical marker that makes it easier to distinguish from other species, but this fossil specimen lacks this marker (fossa parahypotarsalis).

Previous records of the taxon—sites and their age: Grund, Lower Miocene ( MN 5) ( Göhlich 2003); Litke 2, Lower Miocene ( MN 5) ( Kessler & Hír 2012); Kőalja 2, Middle Miocene ( MN 6) ( Kessler & Venczel 2009); Mátraszőlős 1, Middle Miocene ( MN 6–8) ( Kessler 2009b); Rudabánya, Upper Miocene ( MN 9) ( Kessler 2009b); Polgárdi, Upper Miocene ( MN 13) ( Kessler 2009b); Mátraszőlős 3, Middle Miocene ( Horváth 2023).

Comparative material: Perdix perdix (67.21.1); Coturnix coturnix (2010.1226.1); Gallus gallus domesticus (60.12.1); Alectoris rufa (68.7.1); Alectoris graeca (2010.1221.1).

This material is not catalogued, it belongs to the Chapel of Reconciliation in Beremend and will be catalogued in their collection.