Discovery of 150-million-year-old Jurassic short-tailed bird fossil sheds light on bird's origin

Scientists in China have discovered a fossilised bird dating back 150 million years. The fossil, named Baminornis zhenghensis, was found in Zhenghe County, Fujian Province. Researchers believe this discovery offers new insights into bird evolution.

The fossil has a short tail ending in a pygostyle, a feature of modern birds. This suggests that modern bird body structures appeared 20 million years earlier than thought. The finding may also indicate that birds evolved earlier than scientists previously believed.

A Unique Mix of Features
The fossil shows a blend of modern and ancient traits. It has a bird-like shoulder and pelvic girdle but a dinosaur-like hand. Wang Min, a lead scientist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said this creates a puzzling combination.

Academician Zhou Zhonghe noted that this discovery challenges past beliefs. Previously, Archaeopteryx was the only known bird from the Jurassic Period. This fossil now suggests that other early birds existed during that time.