Ancient fossil bird skull reveals roots of avian intelligence, new study finds

A preserved fossil bird from the Mesozoic era provides unprecedented insights into the evolution of avian intelligence. Discovered in Brazil and identified as Navaornis hestiae, this 80 million-year-old bird fossil could hold the keys to understanding the evolutionary development of the brains of modern birds, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge and of Natural History. Los Angeles County Museum.

A unique fossil from ancient Brazil

The study reveals that the fossil, which includes a nearly intact skull, offers a rare insight into the anatomy of early birds, making it one of the most comprehensive discoveries of its kind. Discovered by William Nava, director of the Museu de Paleontologia de Marília, at a site in Presidente Prudente, this specimen appears to have been preserved in dry stream conditions millions of years ago. The research team used an advanced micro-CT scanner to digitally reconstruct the bird’s brain, revealing important evolutionary details.

Co-lead author Dr Guillermo Navalón, from the Department of Earth Sciences, Cambridge, said Science Daily considers Navaor a vital part of understanding the transition from early bird-like dinosaurs to the sophisticated bird brains we see today. Dr. Luis Chiappe, another co-leader of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, said Navaornis had a larger brain than the 150-million-year-old Archeopteryx, a leer-like dinosaur -early, suggesting more advanced cognitive abilities, although it lacked some of the complex brain structures necessary for modern bird flight.

A missing link in avian evolution

THE researchpublished in the journal Nature, positions Navaornis within an evolutionary gap of 70 million years. This “intermediate” brain structure is thought to have influenced the development of crucial cognitive abilities for modern birds, such as advanced problem solving and social behaviors. Professor Daniel Field, lead author of the study at Cambridge’s Department of Earth Sciences, said the discovery answers a long-standing mystery in vertebrate evolution, highlighting how this fossil provides a clearer timeline of the development of the brain, from Archeopteryx to today’s birds.

New directions for research into bird evolution

Researchers hope that further discoveries at the Brazilian site will uncover additional details about the evolution of birds and their brains. With further studies planned, the team anticipates that Navaornis will continue to play a central role in reconstructing the evolution of avian intelligence, providing new insights into the origins of cognitive abilities in bird species from Today.