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https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38425| Title: | The giant Maltese crane |
| Authors: | Marjorie Northcote, E. |
| Keywords: | Birds -- Malta -- History Cranes (Birds) |
| Issue Date: | 1987 |
| Publisher: | Malta Ornithological Society |
| Citation: | Marjorie Northcote, E. (1985). The giant Maltese crane. Il-Merill, 23, 1-4. |
| Abstract: | The giant Maltese crane Grus melitensis was about the size of the Sarus crane G. antigone, the largest living crane species. It was sympatric with the Common crane G. grus and evidently widespread on Malta; remains of both cranes have been found in Pleistocene deposits at Zabbug, Tal-Gnien and Mnajdra. Bones often occurred in river terrace, cave or fissure infillings but no precise dates are available for either sediments or fauna. The crane bones were associated with giant Maltese Swans Cygnus falconeri and with Elephas melitensis and/or E. falconeri. The elephants flourished on Siculo/Malta during a period equivalent to the Ipswichian interglacial Stage. Gasqoyne, Shwarcz & Ford (1983) define this period by the interval 114-135 years ago. This, then, may also be taken as the date of cranes. The following is an account of the Maltese Crane. |
| URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/38425 |
| Appears in Collections: | Il-Merill : issue 23 : 1984-85 Il-Merill : issue 23 : 1984-85 |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The_giant_Maltese_crane_1987.pdf | 311.12 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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