In a groundbreaking discovery, Chinese scientists have unearthed the oldest short-tailed bird fossil, dating back approximately 150 million years, in Zhenghe County, Fujian Province. This ancient specimen, named Baminornis zhenghensis, offers compelling evidence that birds may have originated earlier than previously believed.
The fossil exhibits a unique combination of features, including a pygostyle—a compound bone at the end of the tail found only in modern birds. Additionally, it boasts modern bird-like shoulder and pelvic girdles alongside a non-avian dinosaurian-like hand, presenting a fascinating blend of characteristics that challenge existing theories about bird evolution.
Dr. Wang Min, a researcher with the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), highlighted the significance of the find, stating, \"This is a groundbreaking discovery. It overturns the previous situation that Archaeopteryx was the only bird found in the Jurassic Period.\"
According to the research team, led by academician Zhou Zhonghe, the emergence of the earliest birds could potentially be traced back to between 172 million and 164 million years ago, pushing back the timeline by about 20 million years from earlier estimates.
The study, a collaborative effort between researchers from IVPP and the Fujian Institute of Geological Survey, has been published in the latest issue of the prestigious journal Nature. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of avian evolution but also underscores the rich paleontological heritage of China's Fujian Province.
Reference(s):
Jurassic fossil discovery in China sheds new light on origin of birds
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