During the Mesozoic Era, not only dinosaurs were on earth. Fossil evidence shows that birds live together with dinosaurs. In fact, one of the oldest known bird fossils, Archeopteryx, lives much earlier than the theropod dinosaurs. Most prehistoric birds have claws on the wings and there are teeth in their beaks. Here I write some examples.
Archeopteryx
Meaning Name: "ancient wing"
Size: 30 cm long
Age: Jurassic (150-140 million years old)
Location: Formation Solnhofen Limestone, Germany
One of the oldest birds is quite famous. His first discovery dates from a fossilized feather in 1860 published a year later by C.E Hermann. Soon, in 1861 the first skeletal skeleton of Archeopteryx with A. london species was discovered. In the following years another Archeopteryx fossil was found and among them a complete fossil in 1861. The fossil duplicate is found in the Geological Museum of Bandung.
Archeopteryx is a species of bird with several distinct features from today's modern species, such as claws on wings, teeth in its mouth, and a long tail. From a lot of research on his anatomy, obviously Archeopteryx is a true bird. Archeopteryx is a flying bird and likes to perch on a tree. They feed on insects and other small animals.
Confuciusornis
Meaning of Name: "Confucius"
Size: 20.7 cm long wingspan of 170 cm
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (161-110 million years old)
Locations: Yixian Formation, Jiufotang, and Chaomidianzi, China
This bird comes from the Jurassic end, because in the fossil there is a layer of Jurassic rock end that even classified Cretaceous. In fact, the French scientific journal Science et Vie made the following comment on this bird, "According to Chinese and American palaeontologists examining this fossil, they agree on the discovery of the first class, which is about 157 million years or older, older than Archaopeteryx. "(Jean Philippe Noel," Les Oiseaux de la Discorde, "Science et Vie, No. 961, October 1997, p. 83.).
This bird fossil was first described by Hou Lianhai and Zhonghe Zhou from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology. Total has been found more than 1000 fossils of this Confuciusornis bird species specimen. Many of these bird fossils have been found, and show them flying in groups.
Definitely Confuciusornis is a bird that has a lot of kesaaman with birds today. Features of modern birds in birds have been found, including beautiful asymmetrical fur, pygostyle structure to support the tail feathers, breastbone, and wings and beak are all very identical with modern birds today. Some fossils show long-tailed details such as Cendrawasih, and males have more attractive feathers than females. The overall frame structure is identical to modern birds today, only the claws on its wings make it different from today's birds. Confuciusornis live in the same period with Archeopteryx, even earlier, but they have more modern bird features.
Shenqiornis wheezing
Meaning Name: "Meng Shenzou seven birds"
Size: 40 cm long
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (161-125 million years)
Location: Qiaotou Formation (Huajiying Formation), China
This bird fossil was investigated by Wang in 2010. Shenqiornis has a strong postorbital head. Teeth in these birds are relatively small, strong and slightly curved, indicating they are carnivores, prey on insects or small shrimp.
Dalianraptor cuhe
Meaning Name: "thieves dalian"
Size: 50-55 cm long
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (145-99 million years)
Location: Jiutotang Formation, China
Dalianraptor was published by Gao and Liu in 2005. In the fossil it looks feather on its long tail, but its wing feathers are not preserved. This bird is called similar to Jeholornis, it's just that Dalianraptor has a longer 1st finger and a shorter wing size. Allegedly they are flesh-eating birds.
Yanornis martini
Meaning of Name: "bird Yan"
Size: 30 cm long
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (150-120 million years old)
Location: Jiutotang Formation, China
Yanornis is one of the birds that is assembled in fossil hoax 'archaeoraptor'. Yanornis has 10 teeth in the upper jaw and 20 teeth in the lower jaw. This bird-sized bird lives in aquatic area and it is thought that they are fish eaters, this is based on the shape of the beak and is also known to contain fish carcasses in the fossil of the stomach.
Otogornis genghisi
Meaning Name: "Etuoke Genghis"
Size: unknown
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (145-99 million years)
Locations: Etuokeqi Charles Chubb, Mongolia
Otogornis bird fossils are less well preserved in the form of the front leg framework and shoulders only. In his fossil excavations at Etuokeqi, another bird fossil, Cathayornis, and some mysterious birdfalls are still found.
Changchengornis hengdaoziensis
Meaning Name: "big wall bird"
Size: 20cm long
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (145-125 million years)
Location: Yixian and Chaomidianzi Formation, China
Still a family with Confuciusornis and also living a lifetime with him, but this bird has a shorter, hooked beak, indicating they are carnivorous birds. Besides they have no teeth. There are two long tail feathers like ribbons like Confuciusornis.
Jibeinia luanhera
Meaning of Name: "Hebei From North"
Size: 11.5 cm long
Age: Cretaceous (140-125 million years old)
Location: Yixian Formation and Huajiying Formation, China
Jibeinia is the first toothed bird in a book published in 1997 by Hou. Fossils that are complete enough to give a hint that they are flying birds and perch. In 2004, Zhang found another specimen in the Huajiying Formation which was then considered the same as the previous Jibeinia fossils. The fossils from the Yixian Formation are even over 140 million years old.
Wellnhoferia grandis
Meaning Name: "for Wellnhofer"
Size: 45-50 cm long
Age: Jurassic (155-150 million years old)
Location: Formation Solnhofen Limestone, Germany
The fossil skeletons of Wellnhoferia were discovered in Eichstatt, Germany in the 1960s and in 1988 this fossil was renamed by Wellnhofer. Had mistaken this animal is Compsognathus. Wellnhoferia is still a family with Archeopteryx, with features of claws, teeth and long tails, only Wellnhoferia has a shorter tail and fourth toe than Archeopteryx.
Sinornis santensis
Meaning Name: "Chinese birds three pagodas"
Size: 14-24 cm long
Age: Cretaceous (140-100 million years old)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
The fossil name was given by an American paleontologist, Rao Chenggang. This bird-size fossil features modern bird structures such as large sternum, pygostyle, and inverted hallux bones. This bird has thin bones, so the body weight is light. Sinonrnis Bird has an aero-ordinated flying feathers. This makes proof that they are birds perched and able to fly. But like most prehistoric birds, they also have toothed jaws and claws on their wings.
Proornis coreae
Meaning Name: "Korean bird before"
Size: unknown
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (145-99 million years)
Location: Sinuiju Series of P'yongan Pukdo, North Korea
The Proornis fossil was discovered in 1993 by a man named Lim, and a year later one of the North Korean magazines published an article entitled "Archeopteryx From North Korea". The fossil consists of messy parts of the skull, neck, wings, and feathers. The metacarpal bone resembles the shape of Archeopteryx, much longer than Confuciusornis, but shorter than Changcengornis. This specimen was discovered in 1993 and first published through photographs in a well-known press in korea. The fossil was named "Proornis" in 1996 by Lim vide Pak and Kim. They are still in a family with Archeopteryx, but some also think they are members of the Confuciusornis family.
Cuspirostrisornis houi
Meaning Name: "tapered muzzle"
Size: 14 cm long
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (144-127 million years)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
Cuspirostrisornis birds have large wings, large beaks with jaws filled with teeth like most prehistoric birds. They are arboreal birds.
Eoconfuctorornis zhengi
Meaning Name: "Early Confucius"
Size: 40 cm long, wingspan 12.5 cm
Age: Cretaceous (136-125 million years old)
Location: Dabeigou Formation, China
It is a Chinese and British paleontologist who unearted this bird fossil in Hebei Province, China. The Eoconfuciusornis fossils are very good and the detail is quite clear. Birds in this Mesozoic Era have no teeth in its beak. In addition they have a pygostyle tail feather and have a beak structure and wings like a bird today. The brown and black colors printed in the fossils are probably the true colors.
Liaoningornis longidigitris
Meaning Name: "Liaoning bird"
Size: 13 cm long
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (142-137 million years)
Location: Yixian Formation, China
The Liaoningornis fossils were first discovered in November 1996, later announced by Lianhin Hou, LD Martin, and Alan Feduccia birds in an article published in Science Magazine. Liaoningornis has a breastbone that is also found in modern birds to attach flight muscles. Flying birds perched on these trees are almost identical to modern birds in other respects as well. One difference with modern birds today is the tooth in its mouth. Discover magazine analysis by Alan Feduccia states Liaoningornis's discovery makes dinosaur doubts are the origin of birds. In an article in Discover magazine it says, "When do birds come in? This fossil (Liaoningornis) shows that they are not dinosaurs."
Liaoxiornis delicatus
Meaning of Name: "bird of western Liaoning"
Size: 7-13 cm long
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (150-125 million years)
Location: Yixian Formation, China
The Liaoxiornis bird was presented by Hou and Chen in 1999. There is a dark fur look on the back of the head and neck, as well as under the right wing and at the bottom of his body. This bird has two small sharp teeth at the end of its beak, as well as claws on the ends of its wings.
Gallornis straeleni
Meaning Name: "French bird"
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (145-130 million years old)
Location: Yonne Auxerre, France
Gallornis is included in modern birds, and their fossils are recorded as the oldest flamingo with distinctive high and long beaks.
Yixianornis grabaui
Meaning of Name: "Yixian bird"
Size: 20cm long
Age: Cretaceous (140-120 million years old)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
This bird has short teeth, short tail bones, and a slender rib. The shape of the front legs indicates that they have a strong flying ability. The bone structure in birds with today's birds has no significant difference, except for unique features such as teeth in the jaw and claws on its wings.
Anchiornis huxleyi
Meaning Name: "dragon bird is born near"
Size: length 34 cm
Age: Jurassic (161-150 million years old)
Location: Tiaojishan Formation, China
Anchiornis's fossil is very well preserved, as it still looks the various types of feathers that cover his entire body, including his legs. The fine hair covers almost the entire head and neck, chest, upper legs, and part of its tail. While the contour fur covers the legs of both legs and even toes. The symmetrical feathers indicate they are not flying birds. Advanced research explains the possibility that they have a dark dominant color, which is gray and black. Anchiornis still belongs to the Archeopteryx family.
Protoavis texensis
Meaning Name: "first bird from Texas"
Size: height about 35 cm, weight less than 350 g
Age: Triassic (225 million years)
Location: Dockum Formation, West Texas, USA
Paleontologist Sankar Chatterjee and colleagues at Texas Tech University say the fossil finds from the Triassic Age are true crows of the size of a crow. The first fossils announced in a paper in Nature magazine in 1986 are synonymous with modern birds, even more "advanced" than Archeopteryx. They are also 75 million years older than Archeopteryx. Although incomplete, the existing fossil skeleton shows it belongs to modern birds. From the great character of Protoavis, it is clear that Protoavis qualifies as a bird. For example, have hollow bones, quill knobs on the arms, furcula bones, large breastbone, bird brain shape, bird's eye sockets, and bird jaw joints. Not many dinosaurs lived before Protoavis.
Sankar Chatterjee mentions, "The protoavis wing structure is so well developed, no doubt they can fly. And the skull is entirely the same as a modern bird. "
Nicholas Hotton, an American paleontologist at the University of Chicago stated, "Protoavis has a well developed furculae, breastbone to help flight, hollow bones, and long bone wings."
Protarchaeopteryx robusta
Meaning Name: "the beginning of the ancient wing"
Size: length 1 m, weight 4 kg
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (145-120 million years)
Location: Yixian Formation, China
Bird experts Larry Martin and Alan Feduccia believe they are groundless birds, like ostriches. Inside the fossil there is a gastrolite stone, meaning they swallow stones to aid digestion, like what the birds do today. The fossils of Protarchaeopteryx do not find unique features of dinosaurs, but the characteristics of birds such as symmetrical feathers, short pygostyle with fan feathers, feathers attached to wings, hollow bones, ancient bird teeth, and stone welding habits. Protarchaeopteryx is still a family with Archeopteryx is believed to be a fast runner.
Footprint of Gruipeda dominguensis
Age: Triassic (212 million years)
Location: Santa Domingo Formation, Argentina
In 2002, Argentina's geological team published the findings of bird fossil footprints. The fossils of the rocks of the Santa Domingo Formation, northwest of Argentina, are entirely the possession of modern birds, of which the same shape is the slender fingers, which are wide-angled between the 2nd and 4th fingers, and the opposite hallux bones. Fossils from the end of this Triassic found Ricardo N. Melchor, Silvina de Valais, and Jorge F. Genise. This bird named Gruipeda makes it clear that birds have existed since the Triassic Period.
Ricardo Melchor examined the triassic bird trail
Ricardo Melchor from saying, "The first and most striking feature of these fossil footprints is the overall similarity with modern bird trails.At the bird's legs, the hallux bones are pointing backwards, where one of its advantages is allowing it to perch.The traces of the hallux of the final Triassic This bird character is clearly the same. "
The team from Argentina mentioned the hallux in this bird is probably not adapted to perch on the tree, they are like seagulls. But most importantly, the Argentine team has evidence that this bird is a flying bird. The Argentine team says that the sign of the displacement from hallux that we can see in some of these footprints is evidence of a landing, they have the ability to fly.
China Roadrunner Footprint
Age: Cretaceous (120 million years old)
Location: Shangdong, China
Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) who live in the US and Mexico was found fossil traces since 120 million ago. Zygodactyl trace fossil fossil named Shandongornipes muxiai is very synonymous with bird roadrunner.
Wyleyia valdensis
Meaning Name: "for Wyley"
Age: Cretaceous (140-136 million years old)
Location: Weald Clay, Sussex, UK
Wyleyia is a prehistoric bird described by Harrison and Walker in 1973 based on a single fossil part of a humerus bone only. The inventor of this fossil, J.G Wyley, later named this fossil. Chances are they are small birds that feed on insects or grains.
Eoenantiornis buhleri
Meaning Name: "Early Enantiornis"
Size: 10 cm long, wingspan 12.5 cm
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (146-121 million years)
Location: Yixian Formation, China
Eoenantiornis birds do not look much like birds at this time only they have beaked beaks and claws on their wings, where the claw wings are bigger than claws in the legs. The food is insects and grains.
Boluochia zhengi
Meaning Name: "Cheng Polo Red Bird"
Size: length 17 cm
Age: Cretaceous (128-120 million years old)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
The fossil was discovered by the bird expert, Zhou, in 1990, later described and named Bolouchia zhengi in 1995. This bird has a pygostyle bone that is longer than the bone of the tarsus. There are a number of sharp teeth in the upper jaw and also the raptor's distinctive beak, which indicates they are true birds of prey.
Protopteryx fengningensis
Meaning Name: "first wing"
Size: 12 cm long
Age: Cretaceous (130-120 million years old)
Location: Huajiying Formation, China
This little bird is clearly capable of flying. It is covered in long hair and has a pelvic bone that can help the flight. These pelvic bones are found in many excellent aviators such as hawks and variations of birds perched. In addition, on its wing claw there is an alula, a feather structure present in birds today. There are some scientists who think that they came from 140 million years ago.
Shenzhouraptor sinensis
Meaning Name: "China Shenzou Bird"
Size: length 80 cm
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (140 million years old)
Location: Yixian Formation and Juifotang, China
Shenzouraptor has no teeth but they have a 45 cm long tail, U-shaped chest, long wings, and feathers. The Shenzouraptor discovered in 2002 was very similar to Archeopteryx except that their tails were longer than the Archeopteryx tails. Viewed from the shoulders, pelvis, chest, breastbone, legs, skeletal shape, and feathers, obviously they are flying birds. This bird is a grain eater.
Jeholornis prima
Meaning Name: "Jehol bird"
Size: 75 cm long
Age: Cretaceous (140-125 million years old)
Location: Juifotang Formation, China
Zhonghe researcher Fucheng Zhou and Zhang from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, China, named the "Jeholornis" on this fossil. Jeholornis has a long tail, claws on the wings, and also has a small tooth on the lower part of his jaw. This bird that is the size of a turkey has an asymmetrical feather structure like a flying bird today. Jeholornis is a grain and fish eater.
Vegavis heels
Meaning Name: "Bird Island Vega"
Age: Cretaceous (70-65 million years old)
Location: López de Bertodano Formation, Antarctica
Vegavis is a modern aquatic bird, and is synonymous with today's ducks and geese. The Vegavis fossil specimen is held by the Museo de La Plata, Argentina. The fossil was discovered in 1992 on Vega Island, Antarctica, and was first described as a new species of bird in 2005. The discovery of Vegavis further confirms that modern birds live during dinosaurs.
Iberomesornis romerali
Meaning of Name: "Spanish Medium Bird"
Size: body length 10-20 cm, wingspan 10-15 cm, weight 20 grams
Age: Cretaceous (137-113 million years)
Location: Las Hoyas Formation, Province of Cuenca, Spain
The fossil was discovered in 1985. Birds the size of this sparrow have a pygostyle structure that is also found today like a bird. Unfortunately, this bird is not found skull so it is not known exactly what the food.
Eoalulavis hoyasi
Art Name: "ancient bird with alula"
Age: Cretaceous (130-115 million years old)
Location: Calizas de Huérgina Formation, Las Hoyas region, Cuenca, Spain
Eoalulavis's wing structure is just like modern day flying birds. Eoalulavis has alula, which is a collection of feathers on the front side of the wing. With the small movement of this arrangement, the air trajectory over the wings can be changed with certainty, so that they can regulate stability while flying. Fossils depict they have long tail bones with long tail feathers.
Sapeornis chaoyangensis
Meaning Name: "Sape bird"
Size: length 30-33 cm (without tail length)
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (150-110 million years old)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
The fossils were found in the Jiufotang stone formations near Chaoyang and some almost complete fossils have been found. Birds that have 3 fingers on their wings and a relatively long tail have chest bones which means they are flying birds. Because they are herbivores eating seeds and fruit, it is thought they will swallow gastrolite, to soften food in the digestion.
Gansus yumenensis
Name Meaning: "Yumen's courage in Gansu"
Size: 30 cm long
Age: Cretaceous (140-105 million years old)
Location: Xiagou Formation, China
Gansus was found in the form of a single-footed fossil in 1981. The discovery of other Gansus fossils indicates that they are alive at 150-130 million years old, a time with Archaepteryx. Gansus is one of the oldest ornithuran. They are flying aquatic birds. The five 2003-2004 fossils are well preserved, there are beautiful asymmetric feather decarbonization prints as evidence of flying birds, as well as clear skeletons suitable for diving like grebes and ducks. This pigeon-sized bird has claws on its wings and a toothed beak.
Hesperornis
The meaning of the name: "the great western bird"
Size: 150cm long
Age: Cretaceous (99-65 million years old)
Location: Russia, North America, Canada
This flightless bird was one of the fossils discovered by C. Marsh in the late 19th century. Like most birds living in the dinosaurs, Hesperornis has teeth in its beak, meaning it is a carnivore. Chances are they will eat crustaceans and mollusks. On the mainland, Hesperornis is thought to be unable to move freely like the current penguin.
Cathayornis yandica
Meaning Name: "Cathay bird (old)"
Size: 9.6 cm long
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (145-99 million years)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
The fossil was found in an isolated area of northeast China by a doctoral student Zhonghe Zhou in 1990. Cathayornis is the most complete enantiornithine bird ever found.
Jixiangornis orientalis
Meaning of Name: "oriental bird of the Yixian Formation"
Age: Cretaceous (140 million years old)
Location: Yixian Formation, China
Jixiangornis is a prehistoric bird with a long tail with 27 tail bones and claws on its wings, but they have no beak in their jaws. The great wings are a hint that they are aviators. Jixiangornis is only known from a single specimen with a complete fossil discovered in 2002.
Aurornis Xui
Meaning Name: "dawn bird Xui"
Age: Jurassic (160 million years old)
Location: Tiaojishan Formation, China
Longipteryx chaoyangensis
Meaning Name: "Long hair of Chaoyang"
Age: Cretaceous (130-120 million years old)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
Hongshanornis longicresta
Meaning Name: "Hongshan bird"
Age: Cretaceous (130-125 million years old)
Location: Yixian Formation, China
Jurapteryx recurva
Meaning of Name: "Jurassic Wing"
Age: Jurassic (150 million years old)
Location: Germany
Longicrusavis houi
Meaning Name: "climber bird"
Age: Cretaceous (133-120 million years old)
Location: Yixian Formation, Liaoning Province, China
Omnivoropteryx sinousaorum
Meaning Name: "omnivor wing"
Age: Cretaceous (140-110 million years old)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
Aberratiodontus wui
Meaning Name: "messy tooth"
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (140-110 million years old)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
Aquatilavipes curriei Footprint
Age: Cretaceous (130 million years old)
Location: Canada
Tridactyl Morocco Footprint
Age: Jurassic (167 million years)
Location: Morocco
Alaripeda Footprint
Age: Triassic (212 million years)
Location: Formation Santo Domingo, Argentina
Noguerornis gonzalezi
Meaning Name: "Noguera River bird"
Age: Jurassic-Cretaceous (145-130 million years old)
Location: El Montsec, Spain
Hui Channel
Meaning Name: "Peng bird"
Age: Cretaceous (120-110 million years old)
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
Ichtyornis dispar
Meaning of Name: "fish bird"
Age: Cretaceous (100-82 million years old)
Location: South America
Dalingheornis liweii
Meaning of Name: "Dalinghe bird"
Age: Cretaceous (130-122 million years old)
Location: Yixian Formation, China
Dapingfangornis sentisorhinus
Meaning of Name: "great bird of thorn hut"
Location: Jiufotang Formation, China
Age: Cretaceous (125-112 Million Years)
Fossils of Perm and Carbon Footprints
Age: Permian (290-248 million years) and Carbon (354-290 million years)
Locations: Pennsylvania and New Mexico, USA
In 1987, paleontologist Jerry MacDonald discovered various traces of fossils from several species of animals and birds, located on the Permian rocks on Mount Robledos, New Mexico. In fact, among them there is a human foot print. In 1844, Dr. Alfred T. King has also found fossilized swamp footprints in the rocks of Carbon, Pennsylvania.
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