Chinese scientists have discovered the fossil of Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis, the earliest known flightless bird, dating back 150 million years to the Late Jurassic period. Found in Fujian province, this discovery suggests that early birds diversified into terrestrial, non-flying niches much earlier than previously understood. The finding challenges the long-held theory, including ideas proposed by Charles Darwin, that flightlessness in birds was a secondary adaptation that only occurred after flight was mastered. AI
RANK_REASON The cluster reports on a scientific paper detailing the discovery of a new fossil species. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.0]
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