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3mo ago

69-Million-Year-Old Fossil in Antarctica Identified as Earliest Known Modern Bird

The discovery of a nearly complete Vegavis iaai skull reveals new insights into early bird evolution during the Late Cretaceous.

The Late Cretaceous modern bird, Vegavis iaai, diving for fish in the shallow ocean off the coast of the Antarctic peninsula, with ammonites and plesiosaurs for company.
A digital reconstruction of the skull fossil.
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Overview

  • A fossilized skull of Vegavis iaai, an early relative of ducks and geese, was found in Antarctica and dates back 69 million years.
  • The fossil provides the earliest evidence of modern birds, linking Vegavis to the evolutionary group that includes today’s waterfowl.
  • Unique skull features, such as a long pointed beak and powerful jaw muscles, suggest Vegavis used underwater propulsion to hunt fish.
  • Antarctica's temperate climate during the Late Cretaceous may have served as a refuge for early bird ancestors after the asteroid impact that caused mass extinction.
  • This discovery highlights the Southern Hemisphere's critical role in bird evolution and offers a rare, well-preserved glimpse into ancient avian diversity.