A newly discovered bird fossil from China is changing what scientists thought they knew about when birds first took shape. The species, __Baminornis zhenghensis__, shows that some modern bird features appeared nearly 20 million years earlier than expected.
Found in rocks dating backaround 149 million years, the fossils also challenge the long-standing idea that Archaeopteryx was the first true bird. The find was made in Fujian Province by a team from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP). The group, led by Professor Wang Min, identified the fossils as dating from the late Jurassic, a period where evidence of early birds is scarce.
Archaeopteryx Is No Longer Alone
For a long time, Archaeopteryx was seen as the first bird, mainly because it had both dinosaur traits such as teeth and a long tail, and bird traits like feathers and wings. That interpretation has been increasingly questioned.
Research published in Natureindicates that Archaeopteryx may be closer to deinonychosaurian dinosaurs than to true birds. This shift leaves room for other species to take a more central place in the avian lineage. From that point on, Baminornis zhenghensis stands out. Dr. Zhou Zhonghe, co-author of the study, stated that:
“If we take a step back, and reconsider the phylogenetic uncertainty of Archaeopteryx, we do not doubt that Baminornis zhenghensis is the true Jurassic bird.”
A Tail That Changes The Timeline
One detail stands out clearly. Unlike __Archaeopteryx__, which had a long reptile-like tail, __Baminornis zhenghensis__ has a short one ending in a pygostyle, a structure also seen in modern birds. Professor Wang Min pointed out that the oldest known short-tailed birds were previously dated to the early Cretaceous.
“Previously, the oldest record of short-tailed birds is from the Early Cretaceous. Baminornis zhenghensis is the sole Jurassic and the oldest short-tailed bird yet discovered, pushing back the appearance of this derived bird feature by nearly 20 million years.” It suggests that key adaptations linked to modern birds appeared earlier than previously thought.
Another Fossil Just Changed the Picture
The team also uncovered a second fossil, although it is far less complete. It consists of a furcula, or wishbone, but still provides useful information. Analysis of this bone suggests it may belong to the Ornithuromorpha group, which later gave rise to modern birds. Due to its fragmentary state, the researchers chose not to name a new species.
Even so, this fossil adds another piece to the puzzle. Together with Baminornis zhenghensis, it supports the idea that bird diversity in the Jurassic period was higher than previously documented.
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