Fujianvenator prodigiosus

Fujianvenator prodigiosus - a new species of fossil proto-bird discovered in China!
This species has recently been discovered in south-eastern China.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02757-5
It is conjectured that this species did not fly but had evolved to wade through swamps.

According to the Times:

Blockquote
The creature, which may have been a high-speed runner or a wader that lived in a swamp and has been given a Latin name that means “bizarre Fujian hunter” after the Chinese province in which it was discovered, could help scientists to understand the different evolutionary paths followed by the first avialans, the ancestors of modern birds.

Note: not in the iSpot dictionary (yet)!

2 Likes

Skomers birds make the news

Fascinating! Thanks for pointing out the article, JoC.

Is someone Crying Wolf here?

A land-owner about five miles from us has now got permission to introduce beavers… I hope it doesn’t attract the same sort of hysterical reaction that wolves have done.