Jurassic Fossil Discovery in China Reveals Clues to Bird Evolution
| Summary/Static | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in the news? | Jurassic Fossil Discovery in China Reveals Clues to Bird Evolution |
| Discovery Location | Fujian Province, China |
| Age of Fossils | ~149 million years (Jurassic) |
| Lead Researcher | Professor Wang Min (IVPP, Chinese Academy of Sciences) |
| Key Fossil Name | Baminornis zhenghensis |
| Significance | Oldest known short-tailed bird, challenges Archaeopteryx's classification |
| Evolutionary Traits | Combination of dinosaur-like and modern bird-like features |
| Short-Tailed Bird Origin | Pushed back by ~20 million years |
| Second Fossil | Incomplete furcula, possibly from Ornithuromorpha |