. 24/7 Space News .
EARLY EARTH
Scientists ID new 'missing link' species between dinosaurs, birds
by Sam Howard
Washington (UPI) Oct 25, 2018

Scientists discovered a new species of the "missing link" between dinosaurs and birds, Great Britain's University of Manchester said.

Based on physical characteristics, researchers believe the newly identified species of Archaeopteryx, known as Archaeopteryx albersdoerferi, is a closer cousin to the modern bird than any dinosaur.

One of 12 Archaeopteryx specimens known to exist, the specimen examined in the latest research effort was the eighth to be discovered and is the youngest by about 500,000 years, the university said in a news release.

To assess the specimen, researchers subjected it to a form of three-dimensional X-ray analysis called synchrotron examination, the university said. They published their results Wednesday in the journal Historical Biology.

"By digitally dissecting the fossil we found that this specimen differed from all of the others," researcher John Nudds, of the University of Manchester's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said in a statement. "It possessed skeletal adaptations which would have resulted in much more efficient flight. In a nutshell we have discovered what Archaeopteryx lithographica evolved into -- i.e. a more advanced bird, better adapted to flying -- and we have described this as a new species of Archaeopteryx."

Sometimes described as a feathered dinosaur, scientists first discovered the Archaeopteryx species in the Bavarian region of southern Germany in 1861. A total of 12 specimens have been unearthed and it's become known as the "missing link" between dinosaurs and birds. Nudds said this latest discovery pinpoints "Archaeopteryx as the first bird, and not just one of a number of feathered theropod dinosaurs, which some authors have suggested recently."

Researchers' analysis pointed to several distinct features of the Archaeopteryx albersdoerferi skeleton, including fused cranial bones, different chest and wing features and reinforced hand bones, the university said.

It was a significant step forward in skeletal analysis of Archaeopteryx specimens, lead author Dr Martin Kundrát, of Slovakia's University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik, said.

"This is the first time that numerous bones and teeth of Archaeopteryx were viewed from all aspects including exposure of their inner structure," Kundrát said. "The use of synchrotron microtomography was the only way to study the specimen as it is heavily compressed with many fragmented bones partly or completely hidden in limestone."


Related Links
Explore The Early Earth at TerraDaily.com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


EARLY EARTH
Oldest evidence for animals found by UCR researchers
Riverside CA (SPX) Oct 17, 2018
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have found the oldest clue yet of animal life, dating back at least 100 million years before the famous Cambrian explosion of animal fossils. The study, led by Gordon Love, a professor in UCR's Department of Earth Sciences, was published in Nature Ecology and Evolution. The first author is Alex Zumberge, a doctoral student working in Love's research group. Rather than searching for conventional body fossils, the researchers have been tr ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

EARLY EARTH
Plant hormone makes space farming a possibility

US-Russia space cooperation to go on despite Soyuz launch mishap

Escape capsule with Soyuz MS-10 crew hit ground 5 times before stopping

'Concrete block on your chest': astronauts recount failed space launch

EARLY EARTH
Launches of Russian Rokot-2 rocket may begin again in 2021

Rocket Lab selects Wallops Flight Facility for US launch site

Russian Space Corp gets telemetry data, video to probe Soyuz failure

Roscosmos plans to restart Soyuz launches from late November

EARLY EARTH
Scientists to debate landing site for next Mars rover

Efforts to communicate with Opportunity continue

Painting cars for Mars

Novel Technique Quickly Maps Young Ice Deposits and Formations on Mars

EARLY EARTH
China launches Centispace-1-s1 satellite

China tests propulsion system of space station's lab capsules

China unveils Chang'e-4 rover to explore Moon's far side

China's SatCom launch marketing not limited to business interest

EARLY EARTH
How Max Polyakov from Zaporozhie develops the Ukrainian space industry

European Space Talks: we need more space!

Source reveals timing of OneWeb satellites' debut launch on Soyuz

French Space Agency opens new office in the UAE

EARLY EARTH
Memory-steel makes for new material to strengthen buildings

Molecular memory can be used to increase the memory capacity of hard disks

Use of raw materials to double by 2060: OECD

Origami, 3D printing merge to make complex structures in one shot

EARLY EARTH
Scientific research will help to understand the origin of life in the universe

Life-long space buff and Western graduate student discovers exoplanet

How the seeds of planets take shape

NASA should expand search for life in the universe: NAS Report

EARLY EARTH
Icy moon of Jupiter, Ganymede, shows evidence of past strike-slip faulting

Icy warning for space missions to Jupiter's moon

New Horizons sets up for New Year's flyby of Ultima Thule

Hunt for Planet X reveals the Goblin, a faraway dwarf planet









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.