Fujian fossil discovery reveals flightless Jurassic bird species

Researchers have discovered a new species of Jurassic bird fossil in Zhenghe, Fujian Province, that was unable to fly. The species, named ‘Yuezhuo yangyuanensis’, was specialized for running on the ground.

The discovery was made through a collaboration between the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Fujian Institute of Geological Sciences. Following a four-year excavation process, the fossil was identified in August 2024.

This finding challenges the long-held scientific consensus that bird evolution was primarily driven by the development of flight. The research, published in the journal Nature on October 14, provides critical fossil evidence regarding the evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds.