Form, function and fibres: a preliminary study of the Swartkrans fossil birds

Abstract

Fossil bird bones from the Swartkrans cave estimated at about one million years old have been identified to family level. Differences in humerus and sternum structure were noted. This led to an investigation into flight styles and behaviour as well as the muscle structure and function of the modern representatives of three families (Phasianidae - francolins; Columbidae - pigeons; Tytonidae - barn and grass owls) in an attempt to understand why the bones in these families were so distinctive.