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A new avian taxon from the early Paleocene Waipara Greensand in Canterbury, New Zealand, is described. The holotype ofAustralornis lovei, gen. et sp. nov. includes wing and pectoral girdle bones, which exhibit distinctive morphologies. Notable features are a very long crista deltopectoralis, a craniocaudally flattened shaft, and a large tuberculum dorsale of the humerus, as well as a ridge-like caudal surface of the proximal ulna. Although a well-founded assignment of the new species to any of the extant higher-level taxa is not possible, key morphological features of stem group Sphenisciformes (penguins) are absent inA.lovei. Other than penguins, the holotype ofA. loveirepresents one of the most significant records of a marine Paleocene bird from the Southern Hemisphere, and contributes to the emerging view that Neoaves were already diversified in the earliest Paleogene. Australornis http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DBD4F0B3-CDB4-40DA-AEC7-44D0F88AB944 Australornis lovei http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D5CE55DD-12EF-46AB-A7D7-E36D0B0C73BF [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘Arctocyonids’ are generally considered as including some of the most primitive ‘ungulates’ from the Paleocene. Although more than 15 genera are known from North America, European members of this order are less common and mainly belong to derived genera such asArctocyon. However, one species of primitive arctocyonid,Prolatidens waudruae, was described from the early Paleocene of Hainin, Mons Basin, Belgium. Here we describe new dental positions of this small taxon, including for the first time upper molars and upper fourth premolar. Morphological comparisons confirm the position ofP. waudruaeamong primitive ‘ungulates,’ with the closest North American arctocyonids beingProthryptacodon furensandOxyprimus galadrielae.Oxyprimus galadrielaefeatures slightly more primitive morphological traits than both other species. Apheliscids share several characters withProlatidens, but the latter lacks the apomorphies defining the family. Among ‘arctocyonids,’Prolatidensshares with onlyProtungulatumandOxyprimusthe incomplete lingual cingulum at the base of the protocone of M1.Prolatidens waudruaeis unique among Procreodi in its combination of primitive and derived characters. The cladistic analysis placesP. waudruaeclose to the base of the ingroup, indicating that this species is among the most primitive members of the Paleocene ‘ungulates.’ However, the lower nodes of the trees are not well supported and definitive conclusions should await more complete specimens and analysis. Apheliscids are situated relatively far fromProlatidens, suggesting that the resemblances between them are better considered as convergences. Based on the morphological comparisons, the arctocyonid from Hainin correlates best with North American Torrejonian taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]