The remarkable, recently extinct “mole‐duck” Talpanas lippa (Aves: Anseriformes) from Kauai, Hawaii: behavioral implications of its neuroanatomy and skull morphology

Divergent evolution of island birds is well documented, and Talpanas lippa , from ~5400‐year‐old lake deposits in Kauai, may be among the strangest cases. Talpanas has synapomorphies of Anatidae and potentially oxyurines. Postcranial bones indicate that Talpanas was probably flightless and terrestrial. We microCT scanned the preserved skull elements followed by 3D visualization of the brain endocast and inner ear. We also microCTed heads of...