Newly discovered fossil sheds light on avian tail evolution mystery
Researchers have discovered a Jurassic bird fossil, Zhengheornis buyu, which challenges existing theories about avian tail evolution. The fossil shows a short tail without a fused pygostyle, suggesting that body size miniaturization occurred earlier than previously thought.
Why it matters
This discovery provides new evidence for the evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds, specifically regarding skeletal morphology.
Researchers have recently discovered a new Jurassic bird fossil that overturns a long-held assumption about how the avian tail evolved, according to findings published online in the journal Science Advances.
The content is a scientific report based on findings published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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