A new bird species from the Late Jurassic (approximately 148-150 million years ago) has been discovered in the Nanyuan Formation, Fujian province, China, offering a rare glimpse into the early evolution of birds.
- "They definitely would have chased us." New dinosaur the size of a tiger with giant claws and feathers discovered from fossil found on English island
- "It could sprint at 40mph and had a huge skull with a deadly-looking, hooked beak and swallowed its prey whole…" 10 deadliest prehistoric birds ever
The evolution of birds began in the Jurassic Period, with the earliest birds branching off from small theropod dinosaurs. But fossils of those early avian ancestors are rare, making it difficult for scientists to understand how early birds first diversified.
The newly described species, Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis, fills some of those blanks in the evolutionary history of birds. Analysis of its fossilised skeleton suggests that it lived a terrestrial, flightless lifestyle, placing it among the earliest-diverging birds.
This prehistoric bird, most similar in proportions to modern ground-dwelling species such as pheasants, shared traits of both birds and dinosaurs. Estimated to have weighed about 821g, it had forelimbs roughly one-third shorter than its hind legs. Significantly short forelimbs were widely present among non-avialan theropod dinosaurs.
The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nature, also identified a highly flexible second toe, a feature not previously known in birds, but distinctive to deinonychosaurs – a group of predatory dinosaurs including the Velociraptor.
- Experts uncover a truly bizarre prehistoric animal – with teeth like a seal, a platypus-like pelvis and the tail of an otter
- Could any dinosaurs fly? Probably fewer than you think...
The bird’s head was also built similarly to deinonychosaurs, with a long toothy jaw and serrated teeth. Meanwhile, its pelvis and hind limbs look like those of other early birds.
According to the scientists, this mosaic of traits exhibited by Y. yangyuanensis demonstrates that the evolution of birds wasn’t a straightforward road toward flight, but rather a complex process involving exploration of different ecological niches. It also highlights the extraordinary range of diversity of early birds.
The researchers do acknowledge that the species is known from only a single specimen, and more fossil discoveries will be needed to better understand Y. yangyuanensis and its lifestyle and place in bird evolution.
Read the full findings here.
Top image: Life reconstruction of the Late Jurassic bird Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis. Credit: Mr. Chung-Tat Cheung
