Significant Find
Navaornis hestiae, an 80-million-year-old bird fossil with an exquisitely preserved skull, was discovered in , offering a rare insight into avian evolution.
The fossil's preservation allowed for a detailed 3D reconstruction of its brain, filling a 70-million-year gap in understanding the evolution of bird cognition and flying capabilities.
Evolutionary Insights
Navaornis exhibits a brain structure that is intermediate between Archaeopteryx and modern birds, suggesting a gradual evolution of cognitive abilities and flying capacity.
The study highlights that while Navaornis had an expanded cerebrum compared to earlier bird-like dinosaurs, it lacked the developed cerebellum seen in modern birds, indicating a different level of intelligence and flight control.