Scientists have discovered two Jurassic-era bird fossils in China that are pushing back the diversification of birds by 20 million years. The fossils, found in Jurassic-era rocks in Fujian Province, southeast China, date back approximately 149 million years and provide strong evidence that birds had already diversified by the end of the Jurassic period.
The discovery includes a previously unknown bird species, Baminornis zhenghensis, which has a short tail and mixed dinosaur-like and bird-like traits. This fossil is significant because it represents one of the oldest known short-tailed birds, dating back to nearly 20 million years before the earliest recorded short-tailed bird.
The researchers used several methods to analyze the position of Baminornis zhenghensis in the evolutionary tree of birds, which suggests that it is one of the oldest known birds. The team also found a second fossil, an isolated furcula, which may belong to Ornithuromorpha, a group of Cretaceous birds.
The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of bird evolution and fills a gap in the fossil record. It highlights the importance of continued exploration and research into the history of life on Earth.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-have-uncovered-one-of-the-oldest-birds-ever-and-its-unlike-anything-weve-seen