NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't know if you have heard about this before, but there exists a fossil named Protoavis from the late Triassic of Texas (approximately 225 million years ago) which is supposedly a primitive bird. The oldest bird prior that, the Archaeopteryx from the late Jurassic of Germany is 'only' circa 150 million years old.
As this would put the origin of the birds back (at least) some 75 million years earlier, laying waste to current theories on how birds evolved (i.e. closely related to Dromaeosaurs) and when they separated from the dinosaurs.
There is however a catching point, namely that the single known specimen was put together from disarticulate material that may actually belong to different species, and actual material of Protoavis is very incomplete. Hence the validity of Protoavis is disputed.

Perhaps there is also a dose of local patriotism involved. Isn't it cool if the world's oldest bird comes from Texas and not boring old Germany? ;)

And finally there's the infamous Creationist faction making the pointless claim that Protoavis would disprove evolution... :rolleyes:

I don't know if you have heard about this before, but there exists a fossil named Protoavis from the late Triassic of Texas (approximately 225 million years ago) which is supposedly a primitive bird. The oldest bird prior that, the Archaeopteryx from the late Jurassic of Germany is 'only' circa 150 million years old.
As this would put the origin of the birds back (at least) some 75 million years earlier, laying waste to current theories on how birds evolved (i.e. closely related to Dromaeosaurs) and when they separated from the dinosaurs.
There is however a catching point, namely that the single known specimen was put together from disarticulate material that may actually belong to different species, and actual material of Protoavis is very incomplete. Hence the validity of Protoavis is disputed.

Perhaps there is also a dose of local patriotism involved. Isn't it cool if the world's oldest bird comes from Texas and not boring old Germany? ;)

And finally there's the infamous Creationist faction making the pointless claim that Protoavis would disprove evolution... :rolleyes:
There has been a complete specimen of a feathered ( apparently flying ) dinosaur unearthed in China recently. I don't recall the details, but they indicated it had pushed back the earliest date for this sort of animal several million years.

There has been a complete specimen of a feathered ( apparently flying ) dinosaur unearthed in China recently. I don't recall the details, but they indicated it had pushed back the earliest date for this sort of animal several million years.

If you are refering to the feathered dinosaurs / primitive birds from Liaoning, China (Caudipteryx, Confuciusornis, Microraptor, Rahonavis, Sinosauropteryx, Sinornis, just to mention a few...), they are circa 30 million years younger than Archaeopteryx. However, they do support current theories on the origin of birds.

Btw, do you have some link on that specific feathered dinosaur? I'd be interested... ;)

If you are refering to the feathered dinosaurs / primitive birds from Liaoning, China (Caudipteryx, Confuciusornis, Microraptor, Rahonavis, Sinosauropteryx, Sinornis, just to mention a few...), they are circa 30 million years younger than Archaeopteryx. However, they do support current theories on the origin of birds.

Btw, do you have some link on that specific feathered dinosaur? I'd be interested... ;)
As I recall, I saw that on the Science Channel, but here's an article that seems to be about the same fossil: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s768613.htm

Well, the article refers to Microraptor from the said locality in Liaoning. But as you said if you saw it originally elsewhere, that may have been about some newer, older find. (which would be rather cool)

Well, the article refers to Microraptor from the said locality in Liaoning. But as you said if you saw it originally elsewhere, that may have been about some newer, older find. (which would be rather cool)
Perhaps so. I'll leep my eyes open and hopefully will remember more the next time. :)

Perhaps so. I'll leep my eyes open and hopefully will remember more the next time. :)

Thanks. :)