A new species of Aegypius vulture from the early Pliocene of Moldova is the earliest unequivocal evidence of Aegypiinae in Europe

An isolated, well-preserved tarsometatarsus of a huge aegypiine vulture from the early Pliocene (MN 15) of Pelinei, Moldova was originally described as Aegypius melitensis (Lydekker, 1890 ) by Tugarinov ( 1940 :199). It was listed under Gyps melitensis by Mlíkovský ( 2002 :189), who expressed his doubts that this fossil could actually be referred to this species. Re-examination of the specimen and more detailed comparisons with extinct and modern Aegypiinae confirm that it is part of Aegypius , and that Tugarinov’s ( 1940 ) placement of the Pleistocene Gyps melitensis Lydekker, 1890 into Aegypius is evidently unsubstantiated. The vulture from Pelinei is the earliest unequivocal evidence of Aegypiinae in Europe.