The remains of a new species of 100-million-year-old bird have
been found in a fossil rich area of northeastern China's Liaoning
Province, a Chinese archaeologist said Wednesday.
"The bird is different from other known birds of the Mesozoic
Era (seven million-120 million years ago) at the medium to small
size range with a distinct thorn-like process on its nose, which
has never been found among other known fossil birds," said Dr. Li
Li from the Institute of Mesozoic Paleontology of Western
Liaoningof the Shenyang Normal University.
The findings give scientists a further opportunity to examine
the diversity of early birds, said Li.
Li and her colleagues unearthed the fossil last October at the
Dapingfang Town in the west of Liaoning where the remains of
dinosaurs, fish and early bird species have also been found.
"We discovered the fossil about 16 meters underground and it
immediately aroused our great interest as its nose was unusually
long," said Dr. Li.
The well-preserved remains include a complete skeleton with a
skull. The total length of the bird fossil is 216 millimeters and
its head is 28 millimeters with a high crista, said Li, adding the
bird was named as Dapingfangornis after the place where it was
found.
The long tail feathers of the bird indicated it was male and its
toothed jaws and strong ungula feet proved that it was small and
carnivorous, said Li.
In addition, many fragmentary skeletons of fish and small
reptiles were preserved under the feet of the Dapingfangornis,
which indicates that the bird liked eating animals alive, said
Li.
Li's findings have been published in the February English
version of ACTA Geologica Sinica, a monthly by the Geological
Society of China.
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(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)
