Trending Now - Dinosaur Era Fossil Reveals Stunning Feathered Creature
WHO:
Phys.org - Alan Turner, lead author and professor of anatomical sciences at Stony Brook University, commented on the significance of the bipedal-beaked configuration of Labrujasuchus expectatus.
Gizmodo - Alex Clark, lead author of the study and PhD student at the University of Chicago.
Phys.org - Male peacocks, birds of paradise, and female mallard ducks mentioned as examples of birds with elaborate mating displays.
WHAT:
Phys.org - The newly described species Labrujasuchus expectatus is a crocodile relative that lived 212 million years ago, not a dinosaur.
Phys.org - Labrujasuchus expectatus is part of the Late Triassic group called Shuvosauridae, which were beaked, bipedal archosaurs.
Gizmodo - A new species named Plumadraco bankoorum, or “Banko’s feather dragon,” was discovered.
Gizmodo - The bird measures about 6 inches (15 centimeters) from beak to tail, with tail feathers around 12 inches (30 centimeters).
Gizmodo - The fossil dates to roughly 121 million years ago.
Phys.org - The fossil bird has some of the longest tail feathers ever found.
WHERE:
Phys.org - The fossils of Labrujasuchus expectatus were excavated from the Hayden Quarry at Ghost Ranch in northern New Mexico.
Gizmodo - The fossil was discovered in Liaoning, China.
Gizmodo - The specimen was found in China’s Shandong Tianyu Museum.
WHEN:
Gizmodo - The study describing the new bird was published today in PLOS One.
Gizmodo - The fossil dates to roughly 121 million years ago.
WHY:
Phys.org - The discovery of Labrujasuchus expectatus highlights the concept of convergent evolution, where different branches of the evolutionary tree arrive at similar physical forms under similar ecological pressures.
Gizmodo - The feathers were probably ornamental and meant for flashy displays to attract mates.
Gizmodo - The structure of the feathers suggests they were used for courtship displays, similar to modern birds.
HOW:
Phys.org - The identification of Labrujasuchus expectatus was based on a long-term collaboration between the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and Ghost Ranch, which has been ongoing since 2006.
Gizmodo - Clark and his colleagues took detailed photographs of the fossil and used digital platforms for closer examination.
Gizmodo - The specimen was surprisingly well-preserved, with body feathers from head to ankles, wing feathers, and tail feathers.
(UPDATED May 28, 2026 06:22 UTC)
Scientists have unveiled a newly described species called Labrujasuchus expectatus, a bipedal, beaked relative of crocodiles that roamed the Earth 212 million years ago during the Late Triassic period. The fossils were excavated from the Hayden Quarry at Ghost Ranch in northern New Mexico, and this discovery underscores the fascinating concept of convergent evolution, where different species develop similar traits in response to comparable ecological challenges. Alan Turner, a professor of anatomical sciences at Stony Brook University and the lead author of the study, emphasized the significance of this unique configuration in understanding the evolutionary history of these archosaurs.
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(UPDATED May 28, 2026 04:22 UTC)
A new species of bird, named Plumadraco bankoorum or "Banko's feather dragon," has been discovered from a fossil found in Liaoning, China, which dates back roughly 121 million years. The bird measures about six inches from beak to tail, with tail feathers reaching an impressive twelve inches, and its elaborate feather structure suggests they were likely used for courtship displays, similar to those seen in modern birds. Alex Clark, the lead author of the study and a PhD student at the University of Chicago, and his team utilized detailed photographs and digital platforms to examine this remarkably well-preserved specimen, which includes feathers from head to ankles.