A new study published in the journal Nature has found that ancient creatures with birdlike feet were walking around millions of years before the earliest birds appeared. The footprints, which have been named Trisauropodiscus, are three-toed and resemble the footprints of modern birds.
Ancient creatures with feet like birds roamed the Earth over 210 million years ago, leaving three-toed fossil footprints in southern Africa, according to a recent study. These tracks are identified as the oldest birdlike prints ever discovered. It predates the earliest known bird fossils by approximately 60 million years. Dr. Miengah Abrahams, the lead author of the study from the University of Cape Town. He suggests that these tracks were likely made by dinosaurs, specifically bipedal reptiles.
While some of the tracks resemble typical three-toed prints of theropod dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, others show unique features more similar to bird footprints. The study raises questions about the relationship between these mysterious creatures and birds. It suggests they could represent a missing link in avian evolution or be reptiles that independently evolved birdlike feet.
Possible Answers
The fossilized footprints, known as Trisauropodiscus, were first discovered in the mid-20th century. They were initially controversial among paleontologists regarding their avian affinity. The study reexamines these tracks, revealing two distinct morphotypes. Morphotype I tracks are categorized as non-avian, while Morphotype II closely resembles modern bird prints. It also indicates a surprising similarity between these ancient creatures and birds. However, they say that the most likely explanation is that the tracks were made by early dinosaurs that were closely related to birds.
The findings challenge previous assumptions about the timing of birdlike foot evolution. The deductions also suggest that this trait is much older than previously thought. The study contributes valuable insights into the evolution of dinosaurs and birds. It also sheds light on a crucial period in the history of archosaurs, the ancient reptile group encompassing dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and crocodilians.
The discovery of the Trisauropodiscus tracks is a significant advance in our understanding of the evolution of birds. It shows that birdlike feet evolved much earlier than previously thought. Moreover, it suggests that the ancestors of birds may have been more diverse than previously thought.
