Did This Dinosaur Tweet Like a Bird Fossil Suggests Ancient Origins of Birdsong

A newly discovered dinosaur fossil suggests that the evolutionary origins of birdsong might be far older than previously thought. The fossil, belonging to a dinosaur named Pulaosaurus qinqlong, was unearthed in China's Hebei province and dates back 163 million years. This remarkably complete specimen, measuring just 72 centimetres, provides scientists with an unprecedented look at the dinosaur's anatomy, particularly its bird-like neck structure and vocal apparatus.

The key to this discovery lies in the Pulaosaurus's vocal structures, which appear to be an anatomical link between reptiles and modern birds. While most reptiles possess simple cartilaginous vocal organs, birds boast delicate, flexible, bony structures capable of producing complex and diverse sounds. The Pulaosaurus seems to fall somewhere in between, exhibiting vocal features reminiscent of both earlier dinosaurs, like the Pinacosaurus, and those of birds.

Sugerencia de Imagen: An illustration comparing the vocal organs of a reptile, the Pulaosaurus dinosaur, and a modern bird.

Researchers believe that Pulaosaurus lived during the Late Jurassic period and belonged to a group of animals that eventually gave rise to duck-billed dinosaurs like the hadrosaur. Although separated by millions of years of evolution from both the Pinacosaurus and the avian lineage, the presence of similar vocal structures in these distinct species suggests that early dinosaur ancestors may have been capable of song. This pushes back the potential origins of birdsong to over 230 million years ago, though the precise evolution of the avian vocal apparatus and the vocal capabilities of other dinosaurs remain mysteries.

Fuente Original: https://es.gizmodo.com/este-dinosaurio-tal-vez-piara-como-un-pajaro-2000182047

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