A 69-million-year-old skull found in Antarctica has shed new light on the evolution of modern birds. The fossil, named Vegavis iaai, is an extinct bird that lived during the Cretaceous Period and was remarkably well-preserved. The discovery was made by a team led by Dr. Christopher Torres, a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The study published in the journal Nature reveals that Vegavis is a close relative of modern birds, specifically waterfowl. Its brain shape and beak bones are consistent with those found in modern birds, while its powerful jaw muscles suggest it used its feet for underwater propulsion during hunting. This unique adaptation sets Vegavis apart from other birds of its time.
The discovery highlights the importance of Antarctica as a refuge for life during the mass extinction event that wiped out non-bird dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The continent’s temperate climate and lush vegetation may have provided an incubator for the earliest members of modern bird groups.
“This fossil underscores that Antarctica has much to tell us about the earliest stages of modern bird evolution,” said Dr. Patrick O’Connor, co-author on the study. “It provides a new window into the evolutionary history of birds and challenges our previous understanding of their origins.”
The study’s findings have significant implications for our understanding of bird evolution and the impact of the mass extinction event that shaped the modern world.
Source: https://www.ohio.edu/news/2025/02/cretaceous-fossil-antarctica-reveals-earliest-modern-bird