Scientists have named the species Cratonavis zhui and believe it could provide important information about the evolution of modern birds.
In northern China, paleontologists found the fossilized skeleton of a bird that lived about 120 million years ago. His head is almost like that of a dinosaur. About this Science Alert.
Also in this region, imprints of the bodies of feathered dinosaurs and early birds have been found in sedimentary rocks.
Using a digital version of the mineralized bones, the researchers reconstructed the shape and function of the skull as it was when the bird was alive.
So it was found that the shape of the skull of Cratonavis was very similar to that of the Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur, and not like that of birds.
“Primitive skull features indicate that most birds of the Cretaceous period, such as Cratonavis, could not move their upper beak independently of the skull and lower jaw, a functional innovation widespread among modern birds that contribute to their great ecological diversity.” said CAS paleontologist Zhiheng Li.
In addition, Cratonavis has surprisingly long shoulder blades and leg bones. It is noted that these are features rarely found in the fossils of other dinosaur bird ancestors and completely absent in modern birds.
Thus, the authors of the study suggest that during the transition from dinosaurs to birds, the first metatarsal bone went through a process of natural selection, becoming shorter. And as soon as it reaches its optimal size, which is less than a quarter of the length of the second metatarsal bone, it loses its former functions.
“The peculiarity of the enlarged metatarsus in Cratonavis is more similar to that of the Late Cretaceous Balaur, a member of the group of feathered predators known as dromaeosaurids. An elongated scapula has previously been observed in Cretaceous birds such as Yixianornis and Apsaravis. The fact that Cratonavis had a very long scapula probably compensated for the fact that it lacked a sternum adapted to provide more surface for the attachment of the pectoral muscles. This extinct species may have contributed to a biological experiment on flight behavior,” the scientists added.
Some paleontologists have hypothesized that the elongated scapula may have enhanced the mechanical advantage of the humerus contraction/rotation muscles, compensating for the overall underdevelopment of the aircraft in this early bird.
These differences constitute morphological experiments on flight behavior.
Along with this, the authors note the anomalous morphology of the scapula and metatarsals preserved in Cratonavis, emphasizing the extent of skeletal plasticity in early birds.
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“The unique combination of the anatomy of Cratonavis zhui is not a stepping stone between two majestic categories of animals, but a sign that all living things are increments of change, and the evolution of birds of all plumes occurred simultaneously along a large number of different paths. ,” concluded the scientists.
It will be recalled that early archaeologists found the remains of a creature that was four meters tall. It is thought that it may be Bigfoot.
The remains of the largest bird ever found
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Source: korrespondent
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