Protostrigidae

Protostrigidae; Temporal range: Eocene–early Oligocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Strigiformes
Family:	†Protostrigidae
Genera
	Eostrix; Masillastrix?; Minerva; Oligostrix ;

Protostrigidae is a prehistoric family of owls which occurred in North America, Europe, and Asia during the Eocene and early Oligocene periods. The genera Eostrix, Minerva, and Oligostrix are generally placed in this family. In 1983, Cécile Mourer-Chauviré demonstrated that Protostrix is a junior synonym of Minerva. Primoptynx exhibits some protostrigid features, but lacks the specialized tibiotarsus anatomy of other members. The Messel owl Masillastrix was assigned to cf. Protostrigidae.

Protostrigidae characteristics include strong first and second toes as well as a widened medial condyle of the tibiotarsus.

References

↑ Geral Mayr (October 2016). "The world's smallest owl, the earliest unambiguous charadriiform bird, and other avian remains from the early Eocene Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia (USA)" (PDF). Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
1 2 Gerald Mayr (1 April 2009). Paleogene Fossil Birds. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 164–165. ISBN 9783540896289. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
↑ Mayr, Gerald; Gingerich, Philip D.; Smith, Thierry (2020-06-28). "Skeleton of a new owl from the early Eocene of North America (Aves, Strigiformes) with an accipitrid-like foot morphology". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 40 (2) e1769116. Bibcode:2020JVPal..40E9116M. doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1769116. ISSN 0272-4634.
↑ Mayr, Gerald; Šmídová, Lucia; Richter, Adrian; Wedmann, Sonja (2026-11-02). "Evidence for diurnal habits in an exceptionally preserved Eocene owl". Current Biology. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2026.09.079.

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[gulottai-1] Geral Mayr (October 2016). "The world's smallest owl, the earliest unambiguous charadriiform bird, and other avian remains from the early Eocene Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia (USA)" (PDF). Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Retrieved 22 October 2019.

[Mayr2009-2] 1 2 Gerald Mayr (1 April 2009). Paleogene Fossil Birds. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 164–165. ISBN 9783540896289. Retrieved 22 October 2019.

[3] Mayr, Gerald; Gingerich, Philip D.; Smith, Thierry (2020-06-28). "Skeleton of a new owl from the early Eocene of North America (Aves, Strigiformes) with an accipitrid-like foot morphology". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 40 (2) e1769116. Bibcode:2020JVPal..40E9116M. doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1769116. ISSN 0272-4634.

[Masillastrix-4] Mayr, Gerald; Šmídová, Lucia; Richter, Adrian; Wedmann, Sonja (2026-11-02). "Evidence for diurnal habits in an exceptionally preserved Eocene owl". Current Biology. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2026.09.079.