eEdition Subscribe Log in
Sunday, May 19, 2024
43.0°F
This illustration by Phillip Krzeminski provided by researchers in March 2020 shows the world's oldest modern bird, Asteriornis maastrichtensis, nicknamed the "Wonderchicken," in its original environment. About 66.7 million years ago parts of Belgium were covered by a shallow sea, and conditions were similar to modern tropical beaches like The Bahamas. The animal lived just before the asteroid impact that's blamed for killing off many species, most notably the giant dinosaurs, which suggests the evolution of the family tree for modern-day-birds was in a very early stage when the asteroid struck, says researcher Daniel Field of Cambridge University. (Phillip Krzeminski via AP)

This illustration by Phillip Krzeminski provided by researchers in March 2020 shows the world's oldest modern bird, Asteriornis maastrichtensis, nicknamed the "Wonderchicken," in its original environment. About 66.7 million years ago parts of Belgium were covered by a shallow sea, and conditions were similar to modern tropical beaches like The Bahamas. The animal lived just before the asteroid impact that's blamed for killing off many species, most notably the gian…

March 18, 2020

Stories this photo appears in:

'Wonderchicken' fossil reveals ancestor of today's birds
March 18, 2020 9:06 a.m.

'Wonderchicken' fossil reveals ancestor of today's birds

New York (AP) — A tiny fossil skull nicknamed “Wonderchicken” is giving scientists a rare glimpse at early ancestors of today's birds. It may be the oldest known fossil from this group.