New 100-million-year-old bird species found in outback Queensland
A fossil uncovered in inland Queensland reveals a previously unknown bird species from about 100 million years ago.
A rare fossil discovery in outback Queensland has revealed a new species of prehistoric bird that roamed Australia more than about 100 million years ago. The fossil was found by Kevin Petersen near Richmond, about 500 kilometres inland from Townsville, in the remains of an ancient inland sea.
University of New England palaeontologist Matt White identified the bird as Tenuicruris piscanexum. It is only the second Australian bird formally described from the Cretaceous period.
The bird was roughly the size of a scrub turkey and likely had teeth. Bird bones are extremely fragile and rarely survive fossilisation, making each discovery remarkable.
Researchers believe the bird may have foraged for fish across large stretches of water.
- 100 million years ago
- Age
- Richmond, 500km inland from Townsville
- Location
- Tenuicruris piscanexum
- Species name
- only the second
- Cretaceous birds described from
Why it mattersThis discovery helps scientists understand Australia's prehistoric ecosystem and bird life during the Cretaceous period.
AustraliaThe find advances Australian paleontology and deepens understanding of life in Australia during the age of dinosaurs.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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