Vegavis

Taxobox
name = "Vegavis"
fossil_range = Late Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Anseriformes
superfamilia = Anatoidea
genus = "Vegavis"
genus_authority = Clarke "et al.", 2005
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "V. iaai" Clarke "et al.", 2005 (type)

"Vegavis" is a genus of extinct bird that lived during the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian stage) of Antarctica, some 65 mya. It belonged to the order Anseriformes. Among modern birds, "Vegavis" is most closely related to ducks and geese (family Anatidae), but it is not considered to be a direct ancestor of them.Clarke, J.A., Tambussi, C.P., Noriega, J.I., Erickson, G.M. and Ketcham, R.A. (2005). "Definitive fossil evidence for the extant avian radiation in the Cretaceous." "Nature", 433: 305-308. DOI:10.1038/nature03150 [http://www.digimorph.org/specimens/Vegavis_iaai/nature03150.pdf PDF fulltext] [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v433/n7023/suppinfo/nature03150.html Supporting information] ]

The discovery of the type species, "Vegavis iaai", has been hailed as the first proof that relatives of modern birds lived alongside non-avian dinosaurs.

The "Vegavis" fossil specimen (MLP 93-I-3-1) was found in the Cape Lamb deposits of Vega Island, Antarctica, in 1992, but was only described as a new species in 2005 because it consists of the very delicate remains of one bird embedded in a concretion which had to be meticulously prepared for study. CT scans were utilized to gain a clearer picture of the bone structure without running danger of damaging or destroying the bones.

References

External links

* [http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/050125_dino_chickens.html 'Dinosaurs Mingled with Cousins of Ducks and Chickens', from Live Science]