A reconstruction of Rahona, lateral view
Primitive Fossil Bird Provides Crucial
Missing Link Between Dinosaurs and Birds
Around the world scientists are digging deep
into the earth and finding more and more fossil evidence connecting
modern day birds with dinosaurs. While excavating a quarry in
Madagascar , a team of Stony Brook scientists led by Dr.
David Krause and Dr. Catherine Forster, found one of the
most primitive bird specimens yet discovered. Rahona
ostromi, is believed to have lived in the Late Cretaceous
period (65 to 90 million years ago). This dating places
Rahona around the same time as the oldest known bird
fossil, Archeopteryx, and in fact, the two share many
similarities.
Rahona has skeletal characteristics of both birds and
dinosaurs. For example, vestiges of feathers on wing bones
are indicative of developing avian characteristics, while
an important clue to dinosaur heritage is seen in the foot.
Rahona has a large “sickle-like” middle front
toe capable of bending far back and slashing prey or
enemies. This ominous looking claw is a unique
characteristic of certain dinosaurs like the Velociraptor.
The Stony Brook team has found many other fossils of
importance in Madagascar, and the scientists have also set
up the Madagascar Ankizy (children) Fund in 1999 to
mobilize help for the local children he and his research colleagues
meet daily in this, one of the poorest countries in the world.