Fossil Remains of Ancient Tropicbirds Discovered in Zealandia
Tropicbirds, a family of migratory seabirds, have been found to have a much deeper evolutionary history on the lost continent of Zealandia than previously thought. A new study has revealed that a fossil species of tropicbird—the first to be identified from Zealandia—lived in the region between 25 and 28 million years ago. This discovery suggests that the family of birds has been around for a much longer time than previously thought. The research team, which was led by the University of Otago’s Dr. Felix Marx, believes that this new evidence could help to shed light on how birds adapt to their environment over long periods of time. This discovery is an important step in understanding the evolutionary history of these birds—a history that has until now remained largely a mystery.
source: Phys.org