Fossils of bony-toothed birds (Pelagornithids), an ancient family of huge seafaring birds that lived about 62 million years ago were discovered by scientists in New Zealand. According to the study published in the journal Papers in Palaeontology, the newly-discovered Protodontopteryx ruthae is known to be one of the oldest named bird species in the world. Earlier the species was thought to have evolved in the Northern Hemisphere but that theory has been upended by the discovery of the family's oldest, but the smallest member in North Canterbury, New Zealand.

Read: Sri Lankan Scientists Name Species After Mythical Heroes; Cause Uproar

About the bird

Researchers said that the discovered bird species Protodontopteryx ruthae was only the size of an average gull but its descendants were some of the biggest flying birds ever, with wingspans of more than five meters. The features of the family of seabirds include bony, tooth-like projections on the edge of its beak designed for catching its prey probably fish. With evolution, its teeth turned needle-like which were likely used to catch soft-bodied prey like squid. The last animal of the species died out around 2.5 million years ago, just before modern humans evolved.
Read: Research Has Revealed That 3 Species In India Have Become Extinct

The fossil discovery

Several important scientific discoveries including ancient penguins and the world's oldest tropic bird fossil have been found in the Waipara Greensand site where the Protodontopteryx skeleton was found. It was the same team which discovered the penguins which got hold of the oldest bird species. The partial Protodontopteryx skeleton was excavated by amateur last year and named Protodontopteryx ruthae after Love's wife Ruth, researchers said. Scofield, curator at Canterbury museum said that the age of the fossilized bones suggests pelagornithids evolved in the Southern Hemisphere opposed to its earlier discovery in Northern Hemisphere.

"While this bird was relatively small, the impact of its discovery is hugely significant in our understanding of this family," Scofield said.

Read: Five New Fish Species Discovered In Arunachal Pradesh

What sets the bird apart from its family?

Similarly, Gerald Mayr of Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Germany said the discovery of Protodontopteryx was "truly amazing and unexpected." He said that the fossil is one of the most complete specimens of a pseudo-toothed bird. It also shows a number of unexpected skeletal features that contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of these enigmatic birds, he added. The Protodontopteryxs' skeleton suggests it was less suited for long-distance flight. Pelagornithids which evolved later probably covered much shorter ranges. They soared over oceans with some species measuring up to 6.4 meters across the wings, according to the researchers.

(With inputs from PTI)

Read: Wildlife Meet Mulls Trade Rules To Counter 'unprecedented' Species Declines