Re: [dinosaur] *Heracles inexpectatus*, giant parrot from the Miocene of NZ

Ronald Orenstein <[email protected]> wrote:

> Is anyone but me irritated by the temptation to restore a fossil based on a few fragments?

The press articles need an eye-catching illustration.  A pair of legs
just wouldn't do.    ;-)


> I confess I do not like the restoration of this parrot being used in press articles. Every large parrot of which I am aware, both living and extinct, has a proportionately much larger and more massive bill than do smaller parrots, even close
> relatives (think Palm Cockatoo, Hyacinth Macaw, the extinct Lophopsittacus).  Kakapos are admittedly something of an exception, but  aside from that this illustration shows the reverse compared to other Strigopid parrots (Kea, Kaka). I
> suspect that a giant parrot would have had a beak that could have taken your arm off.

As you note, the flightless kakapo (_Strigops habroptilus_) is
exceptional in this regard.  The kakapo is the largest/heaviest extant
parrot, but compared to the kea (_Nestor notabilis_), the kakapo
actually has a relatively smaller skull and beak.  (This is based on
Livezey, 1992. J. Morph. 213:105-145.)  _Heracles inexpectatus_ was
estimated to be around double the mass of the kakapo, but possibly
more closely related to _Nestor_ spp. (based on Worthy et al.).  So
strigopoids may not conform to the trend of relatively larger heads
and beaks with increased body size/mass.  Overall proportions
(especially regarding the head and beak) may be more likely influenced
by diet.  The examples you note  - palm cockatoo, hyacinth macaw,
broad-billed parrot - all favor(ed) tough nuts and seeds.