We report new avian remains from the early Eocene Cambay Formation of Vastan Lignite Mine in western
India. Most of the bones belong to the as yet poorly known taxon Vastanavis, of which a new species, V. cambayensis, is
described. For the first time, tarsometatarsi of Vastanavis can be identified, which show that this taxon had semi-zygodactyl
feet. In overall morphology, Vastanavis closely
... [Show full abstract] resembles the species of the Quercypsittidae, which occur in the late Eocene
of Europe and are considered stem group representatives of the parrots (Psittaciformes). Several plesiomorphic features
indicate, however, that Vastanavis is outside a clade including Quercypsitta and crown group Psittaciformes, and we therefore
assign it to a new family, Vastanavidae. Vastanavis corresponds well with an as yet undescribed avian species from the early
Eocene London Clay in England, and we conclude that, at least concerning the arboreal taxa, the early Eocene avifauna of
India shows some concordances with the much better known one from the early Eocene of Europe. We further describe a
distal tarsometatarsus from Vastan Lignite Mine that superficially resembles that of extant New World vultures (Cathartidae),
but comes from a roller-sized species.