The distinction between the extinct Pleistocene European Crane, Grus primigenia, and the extant Asian Sarus Crane, G. antigone

Abstract

In contradiction with the conclusions of some previousworkers, the extant Sarus Crane, Grus antigone (L.), and the extinct large Crane, Grus primigenia Milne-Edwards, from the Pleistocene of Europe, cannot be considered as conspecific. In fact, the tibiotarsal epicondyles, particularly the medial epicondyle, the distal end of the humerus, its ventral epicondyle and the adjoining process, are comparatively smaller in Grus primigenia. These findings indicate differences in locomotion.