Scientists have uncovered an ancient dinosaur-era bird with two
tails, which lived in modern-day China about 120 million years ago.
Researchers
determined that previously found bird fossils show that Jeholornis had two
tails. They describe their study of the fossils and the dual tails - one long
with feathers near the end, the other short and more useful for flying,
'Phys.org' reported.
Jeholornis was
previously thought to have just one long ornamental tail. This new study
indicates that another was present also, situated much closer to the spine and
very likely useful as an aid in flight.
Earlier efforts had
led to finding 11 fossil specimens that had been identified as Jeholornis -
four of them had feather and bone remains that showed the bird had a long tail
with just a few feathers near the tip and also another tail that was much more
like those of modern birds - a frond useful for steering while in flight.
The team noted that
some of the other fossils did not appear to have both tails, suggesting that
one of tails, likely the long ornamental one, existed in just one gender.
Its purpose, like
the large plumes on some modern birds such as peacocks, likely was for
attracting a mate.
Scientists believe
that Jeholornis likely belonged to a class of birds that never made it to the
modern era, dying off millions of years ago.
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