Click through to read about the research on Nature!
Janavis finalidens in the news
in Paleoart
birds
New Work in Nature!
in Paleoart
Allow me to present Asteriornis maastrichtensis! A new species from the Maastrichtian of Belgium (~66.8 million years ago), this little guy occupies a position close to the last common ancestor of Galloanserae - the superorder that includes galliformes (including extant land fowl, like chickens) and Anseriformes (waterfowl, like ducks).
The fossil itself included a mostly complete skull and a few post-cranial elements. What is remarkable, is that this is currently the oldest example we have of a modern (or crown) bird, and is a strange mash up of land and water fowl features. Additionally, it is associated with a previously described Ichthyornis-like bird from the same locality, so it provides direct evidence for the co-occurrence of crown and stem birds in the late Cretaceous.
I cannot express what a joy and a privilege working on this sort of project is for me, it is the culmination of a lifetime of looking for a purpose. Special thanks, as always, to Daniel Field for bringing me in to collaborate!
Link to National Geographic article.
Link to original research in Nature.
When people think of poisonous animals, most don't think of birds at all. It's true that no known bird produces or injects venom, there are several that sequester toxins from their food into their skin and feathers making them toxic to eat or touch.