New species of ground-dwelling bird, the largest of its kind, identified in same cave as Homo floresiensis
In 2009, researchers working in the Liang Bua cave on Flores Island came across a leg bone. The 190,000–120,000-year-old fossil was identified as a bird bone and set aside. Like many bird bones before it, it was overlooked and left to collect dust.
In 2009, a 190,000–120,000-year-old bird leg bone was discovered in Liang Bua cave on Flores Island. Initially overlooked, the fossil was recently identified as belonging to a new species of megapode, the largest known Megapodius species. This discovery, published in Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, fills a gap in the bird fossil record for a period with little data.
Megapodes, ground-dwelling birds that lay eggs in mounds or burrows, have a long evolutionary history. Named Megapodius rokusi in honor of Rokus Due Awe, who first recognized the bones as bird remains, the species is estimated to have weighed around 3.9 kilograms. Its distinct toe joints, leg shape, and size set it apart from other known megapodes.
However, without additional fossils, its flying ability and exact extinction timeline remain uncertain. The discovery highlights the need for further exploration in Southeast Asia, a biodiversity hotspot, as many bird fossils may still remain undiscovered.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
