AN ARCHAEOTROGON (AVES, ARCHAEOTROGONIDAE ) FROM THE MIDDLE EOCENE OFTHE GRUBE-MESSEL (HESSEN, GERMANY)

A bird from the Middle Eocene of the Grube Messel (Hessen, Deutschland ) is described as a new genus and species of the Archaeotrogonidae Mou rer-Chauvire 1980 (incertae sedis). The specimens from Messel would be the first articulated skeletons of this family. Hassiavis laticauda n . gen. n. sp. is distinguished from the genus Archaeotrogon Milne-Edwa rds 1892 in the morphology of the coracoid. The excellent preservation of the wing feathers and those of the tail in several of the specimen s is exceptional. Some tail feathers of the holotype are barred, which might be traced back to the original pigmentation of these feathers. The phylogenetic position of the Archaeotrogonidae is discussed. At pr esent no synapomorphies are known, which could set up a closer relatio nship between this family and one of the existing orders.