July 7, 2010
While the descent of ancient birds from small, carnivorous dinosaurs has been clearly established, the origins of anatomically modern birds has still been a point of discussion. Originally, scientists believed modern birds arose after a mass extinction event 65 million years ago wiped out the dinosaurs as well as many creatures of the time period.
However, several recent molecular studies and fossil finds seemed to indicate that root of modern birds may extend further down the tree of life. As Scientific American now reports, recent fossil analysis now places the emergence of birds well before the extinction of the dinosaurs, making the two groups at least momentary contemporaries.
Scientists are now interested in learning how modern birds were able to survive a mass extinction event that claimed the archaic birds.
For more, see the article in Scientific American.