Earliest Bird Discovery May Settle Long-Running Mystery
"Few birds are as likely to start as many arguments among paleontologists as 'vegavis,'" said professor Christopher Torres.
69-million-year-old fossil discovery reveals earliest modern bird
Sixty-six million years ago, an asteroid impact triggered the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs. Yet, some early birds, including the ancestors of modern waterfowl, survived. A new discovery from Antarctica provides fresh insight into their evolution.
Paleontologists Discover Fossil of the Oldest Known Modern Bird—but It Raises More Questions Than It Answers
Paleontologists have been arguing whether modern birds developed before or after the infamous asteroid for decades. Now, a team of researchers has analyzed a 69-million-year-old fossil belonging to the long-extinct bird Vegavis iaai that could put the discussion to rest.
Fossil of oldest known modern bird discovered in Antarctica
A 68-million-year-old skull fossil found in Antarctica has revealed the oldest known modern bird, which was likely related to the waterfowl that live by lakes and oceans today, according to new research.
Remarkable Fossil Discovery Hints at Antarctic Origins of All Modern Birds
A near-perfect fossilized skull discovered in Antarctica reveals the bridge between prehistoric and modern birds, a new study has found. The fossil is a specimen of a species called Vegavis iaai, which lived around 69 million years ago – more than 2 million years before the mass extinction that wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs.
66 million years ago, Antarctica was lush, temperate, and home to the oldest modern bird and T-Rex
A recently analyzed near-complete fossil skull found in Antarctica has revealed Vegavis iaai to be the oldest known modern bird, according to a study published in Nature.
Ancient Antarctic fossil reveals Earth’s oldest modern bird
Scientists have made an exciting discovery—a 69-million-year-old fossil found in Antarctica is the oldest known modern bird. This ancient bird, called Vegavis iaai, was an early relative of ducks and geese, proving that modern birds were already evolving before the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
Fossil of ancient duck-like creature discovered
Scientists in Antarctica claim they have may have discovered the oldest modern bird ever found. The fossil which is a skull is believed to be 69-million-years old and belonged to a species called Vegavis iaai.
Cretaceous fossil from Antarctica reveals earliest modern bird
Sixty-six million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous Period, an asteroid impact near the Yucat n Peninsula of Mexico triggered the extinction of all known non-bird dinosaurs. But for the early ancestors of today's waterfowl,
This Prehistoric Duck-Like Creature May Be The Earliest Modern Bird Ever Discovered
In 1992, a paleontologist unearthed the fossil of a prehistoric bird called "Vegavis iaai" in Antarctica and hypothesized that it was an early relative of today's ducks and geese. However, because the fossil was missing a skull,
Antarctica scientists warn 'nowhere on Earth is untouched' after shocking discovery
Study leader Dr Kirstie Jones-Williams, a PhD student working with British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said the findings ...
Shocking discovery on Google Maps: a mysterious 'face' on the surface of Antarctica
The shapes of the Earth can lead to mysterious curiosities. On this occasion, thanks to Google Maps. Because the satellite mapping tool has allowed us to discover a striking figure ...
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Antarctic skull sheds light on ancient birds 69 million years ago
A 69-million-year-old skull found in Antarctica belonged to what scientists say is the oldest known modern bird. An early relative of the continent’s ducks and geese, it lived off the Antarctic ...
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Ancient bird skull from Antarctica might be from early duck relative
The skull, from an ancient relative of ducks and geese known as Vegavis iaai, suggests that the key characteristics of modern birds were already in place 69 million years ago. Birds evolved from ...
Plastic plague reaches Antarctica: Are we past the point of no return?
Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey have discovered microplastics in Antarctic snow near remote glaciers. This ...