Abstract:
Neanis schucherti, an avian fossil from the lower
Eocene Green River Formation of Wyoming, was
described in 1913 under the genus Hebe by Shufeldt as the earliest representative of the order
Passeriformes. The name Neanis has since been
substituted for Hebe for reasons of priority. The
specimen is here restudied and is found to be of
piciform, not passeriform, affinity. It is assigned to
the extinct Eocene family Primobucconidae. Of
the two other previously described lower Eocene
Piciformes, Primobucco kistneri Feduccia 1973 is
reassigned to Neanis, while P. mcgrewi Brodkorb
1970 is retained in Primobucco, which genus is
recognized by its larger size.
