The new fossil unearthed on vega Island near the Antarctic Peninsula of the ancient bird named Vegavis iaai dates to about 69 million years ago, approximately three million years before the asteroid strike at the end of the Cretaceous period that wiped out the dinosaurs, aside from their avian descendants.
Fossils of Vegavis were first described two decades ago. But without sufficient cranial remains itS place on the bird family tree had remained ambiguous. The researchers now were able to diagnose Vegavis as nesting among the anatomically modern birds based on two cranial characteristics — the bones of its upper beak and the shape of its brain.“Both of those features are observable in the new vegavis specimen,” said evolutionary biologist Chris Torres of the university of the Pacific in California, lead author of the research published in the journal Nature.
Vegavis was an early waterfowl, a group that also includes ducks and geese. Vegavis appears to have been ecologically specialized to pursue fish and other prey underwater in a shallow marine ecosystem.Antarctica at the time was not the desolate land of snow and ice that it is today,but rather a forested landscape with a temperate climate.
Expert Interview: Unveiling the Ancient Bird Vegavis iaai
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A conversation with evolutionary biologist Chris Torres about the newly discovered fossil of Vegavis iaai.
Senior editor, World-Today-News.com
Chris Torres
Evolutionary Biologist, University of the Pacific
Senior Editor: Can you tell us about the significance of the new fossil revelation of Vegavis iaai?
Chris Torres: Certainly! The new fossil discovery of Vegavis iaai is significant as it provides us with crucial insights into the evolution of birds during the late Cretaceous period. This fossil dates back approximately 69 million years, making it one of the earliest known waterfowl fossils.
Senior Editor: how did the discovery of this fossil help in understanding the bird family tree?
Chris Torres: The new Vegavis specimen includes sufficient cranial remains, which allowed us to diagnose it’s place on the bird family tree more accurately. Specifically,two cranial characteristics—the bones of its upper beak and the shape of its brain—were key in determining that Vegavis nests among anatomically modern birds.
Senior Editor: what can you tell us about the ecological niche of Vegavis?
Chris Torres: Vegavis appears to have been ecologically specialized to pursue fish and other prey underwater in a shallow marine ecosystem. This suggests that it had adaptations for diving and swimming, similar to modern ducks and geese.
Senior Editor: How did the habitat in Antarctica differ during the time when Vegavis lived?
Chris Torres: During the time when Vegavis lived, Antarctica was not the desolate land of snow and ice that it is today. Rather, it was a forested landscape with a temperate climate. This environment would have supported a diverse range of flora and fauna, providing ample resources for aquatic birds like Vegavis.
Senior Editor: What are the broader implications of this discovery for our understanding of avian evolution?
Chris Torres: This discovery contributes to our understanding of how birds evolved and adapted to various ecological niches over millions of years. It also highlights the importance of fossil records in tracing the evolutionary history of modern bird species.
Senior Editor: Thank you, Chris, for sharing your expertise on this fascinating discovery.
Chris Torres: You’re welcome! It’s always a pleasure to discuss such exciting findings in paleontology.
For more details,read the [research published in Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06458-1).
