Systematics and distribution of the giant fossil barn owls of the West Indies (Aves: Strigiformes: Tytonidae) Author Suárez, William Author Olson, Storrs L. text Zootaxa 2015 4020 3 533 553 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.4020.3.7 0485814f-c455-410f-883d-d84e904669e3 1175-5326 240356 E4BC27F4-67DE-4598-BB06-627C9332D101 Genus Tyto Billberg The fossil material treated here is referable to the Tytonidae and to the genus Tyto (see Figs. 2–8 ), and differs from extinct and extant genera of Strigidae in the West Indies (see Materials and methods) by the following combination of osteological characters (see also Mourer-Chauviré 1987 ; Arredondo & Olson 1994 ; Steadman & Hilgartner 1999 ; Pavia 2004 , among others): Coracoid less voluminous at the scapular end (much less deep) without pneumatic foramina; scapular facet, coracoidal foramen, and sternal facet, proportionately smaller; glenoid facet relatively larger; procoracoid large at base. Humerus less expanded proximally in palmar and anconal views; head proportionately small and less bulbous; bicipital furrow very deep; bicipital crest poorly developed; internal tuberosity reduced; impression of brachialis anticus much deeper. Ulna with prominence for anterior articular ligament more projected; impression of brachialis anticus deeper and more distally extended; bicipital attachment reduced; internal condyle better developed, and the sulcus intercondylaris much more extended into the internal side. Carpometacarpus with a deep fossa distad to the pisiform process (forming two marked ridges at the base of the latter); metacarpal II with internal border acute (less rounded); metacarpal III longer and well extended proximad. Femur with a more vertical trochanteric ridge (less inclined internally); distal end more flared; internal and external condyles more projected anteriorly, resulting in the rotular groove being much deeper; internal condyle larger in internal view; tuberculum M. gastrocnemialis lateralis distally located; popliteal area expanded. Tibiotarsus with slender shaft; inner cnemial crest shorter, but more projected anteriorly; sulcus intercnemialis very wide; fibular crest reduced and higher on shaft; distal fusion of fibular spine long and higher (proximad); distal portion of shaft less expanded bilaterally and less compressed antero-posteriorly; internal and external condyles projecting more posteriorly. Tarsometatarsus slender and convex anteriorly at the distal end, with lateral surface expanded (deeper); intercotylar prominence placed more anteriorly in relation to the position of anterior edges of both internal and external cotylae; ossified proximal supratendinal bridge absent (see also Brodkorb 1969 :113); trochlea for digit IV massive; intertrochlear notch between trochleae for digits II and III reduced.