Study finds flightless birds lived alongside flying species in Jurassic

A new study published in Nature reports the discovery of an early avian ancestor in China that was flightless. The findings, detailed by Xu et al., indicate that flightless birds lived alongside known flying species during the Jurassic period.

Unexpected Body-Form Innovations

The research highlights significant variations in body forms during the early evolution and diversification of bird ancestors. According to the article, the study reveals "unexpected body-form innovations" in this group. The discovery adds to the understanding of the evolutionary history of birds, a group that has long captured public imagination and scientific interest.

Coexistence of Flightless and Flying Species

The primary finding is that flightless birds were not isolated from their flying counterparts but existed in the same timeframe. The source states that the fossil discovery "reveals that flightless birds lived alongside the known flying species." This coexistence suggests a diversity of avian forms during the Jurassic period.

Why it matters

The study contributes to the broader scientific understanding of avian evolution by documenting the presence of flightless forms in the Jurassic period. It underscores the complexity of early bird diversification, showing that not all avian ancestors developed flight capabilities during this era.

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Sources

• nature.com: Some Jurassic period birds were flightless | Nature

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