Did dinos evolve flight twice?

A new fossil suggests dinosaur flight evolved once in bird ancestors and again in prehistoric raptors

buitreraptor2_f.jpg
Photo of reconstructed skeleton of Buitreraptor gonzalezorum. Long hindlimbs indicate it was a fast runner. Elongated arms and massive shoulder girdle indicate powerful prey-grasping abilities. | John Weinstein & The Field Museum

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Paleontologists led by dinosaur curator Peter Makovichy of Chicago's Field Museum found the nearly complete skeleton of a 90 million-year-old, surprisingly bird-like dinosaur in the sandstone of Argentina's northern Patagonia, about 700 miles southwest of Buenos Aires. The find suggests that dinosaur flight in evolved twice – once in bird ancestors, and again in prehistoric raptors of South America. The fossil was the size of a very large rooster, with a very long head and tail, and represents the most complete carnivorous small dinosaur found in South America to date. More from physorg.com.

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2023 Kalmbach Media Co.