A bird with spotted, ribbonlike tail feathers once flew around the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana, a new study finds. Until researchers uncovered the bird's 115-million-year-old fossilized remains in 2011, the scientific world had evidence of birds with ribbonlike tails living only in the Northern Hemisphere. Now, researchers have proof that these unique birds also lived in the Southern Hemisphere during this critical time of bird evolution.
Twin feathers
An illustration of the Cretaceous fossil of a bird that measured just 5.5 inches (14 centimeters) from head to tail. Researchers found the fossil in the Araripe Basin of Brazil.
Sitting pretty
A drawing of the 115-million-year-old fossilized bird uncovered in northeastern Brazil. Researchers are waiting to give the bird a new genus and species, but said it fits into the Enantiornithes group, which encompasses a large diversity of birds that lived during the time of the dinosaurs.
Fabulous fossil
The 2011 finding is now the oldest known bird from Brazil. The fossil shows exceptional preservation of the bird's ribbonlike tail feathers.
Brazilian map
A map showing where the researchers located the fossil.
Rock of ages
The 115-million-year-old Cretaceous rocks where the oldest complete bird from Gondwana was found. The ancient supercontinent Gondwana included Africa, Antarctica, Australia, India and South America.
Close call
An artist's interpretation of an Enantiornithes escaping the jaws of a toothy predator.
Rocky work
People search for new fossil specimens in the Cretaceous rocks of the Araripe Basin, Brazil. The fossils date from 100 million to 120 million years old.
Twin feathers
An illustration of the Cretaceous fossil of a bird that measured just 5.5 inches (14 centimeters) from head to tail. Researchers found the fossil in the Araripe Basin of Brazil.
Sitting pretty
A drawing of the 115-million-year-old fossilized bird uncovered in northeastern Brazil. Researchers are waiting to give the bird a new genus and species, but said it fits into the Enantiornithes group, which encompasses a large diversity of birds that lived during the time of the dinosaurs.
Fabulous fossil
The 2011 finding is now the oldest known bird from Brazil. The fossil shows exceptional preservation of the bird's ribbonlike tail feathers.
Brazilian map
A map showing where the researchers located the fossil.
Rock of ages
The 115-million-year-old Cretaceous rocks where the oldest complete bird from Gondwana was found. The ancient supercontinent Gondwana included Africa, Antarctica, Australia, India and South America.
Close call
An artist's interpretation of an Enantiornithes escaping the jaws of a toothy predator.
Rocky work
People search for new fossil specimens in the Cretaceous rocks of the Araripe Basin, Brazil. The fossils date from 100 million to 120 million years old.
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