Discovery Uncovers How Flightless Birds Migrated Across Continents

Swift Summary

• Ostriches, emus, rheas, and other large flightless birds are spread across six far-apart continents despite their inability to fly.
• A new study suggests their ancestors may have flown long distances before evolving into flightless forms.
• Researchers studied the fossilized sternum of Lithornis promiscuous, a paleognath that lived 59 to 56 million years ago. The fossil’s breastbone shape indicates it supported prolonged aerobic flapping flights similar to birds like egrets and herons.
• the findings suggest ancient paleognaths originally flew across oceans to settle on distantly separated landmasses, later adapting independently into diverse flightless species such as ostriches and cassowaries through convergent evolution.
• Today’s paleognath species include tinamous (which can still fly in short bursts), kiwis, ostriches, rheas, emus, and cassowaries – totaling about 60 distinct species worldwide.
• Evolution from flying ancestors likely occurred in environments devoid of predators or rich with ground-based food sources after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event around 66 million years ago.

!Ostrich tilting head towards the camera lens
The ancestors of giant birds like common rheas were likely able to fly long distances.

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indian Opinion Analysis

This captivating finding about ancient bird ancestors connects evolutionary biology with large-scale geographic dispersal patterns. For India’s scientific community – especially those studying biodiversity or extinct megafauna – this research underscores how interconnected ecosystems historically shaped modern species. India itself is home to unique birdlife within the paleognath family (such as migratory populations from nearby regions), making these findings relevant for conservation strategies informed by long-term evolutionary processes.

Moreover, independent adaptations seen among paleognaths highlight nature’s pragmatic response when environments change over geological timeframes. India’s ecological diversity provides fertile grounds for related investigations into migratory pathways or survival instincts critical for local fauna facing climate-induced habitat changes today. Understanding these ancestral behaviors may inform broader global efforts in safeguarding biodiversity amidst mounting environmental challenges.