Feb. 27,
2019, 11:08 AM
All birds
can be traced back to prehistoric creatures.
Many
modern birds have retained traits of the dinosaurs they evolved from.
Chickens
share genetic makeup with the Tyrannosaurus rex.
While
what we think of as dinosaurs existed between 245
million and 66 million years ago, all you need to do to catch a
glimpse of their descendants is take a look in your backyard. From lanky cranes
to common chickens, all birds can be traced
back to
prehistoric creatures.
Some
birds have retained ancient traits like extra claws and pouched beaks, while
others have evolved into small, domesticated animals, but all are strong
reminders that dinosaurs existed.
A fossil
from 2 million to 5 million years ago has nearly the same structure as modern
sandhill cranes.
The
sandhill crane can be found across North America and can reach nearly 4 feet in
height with a 6-foot
wingspan. Between their deliberate walk, exuberant mating dance, and
rattling trills, it's
easy to imagine one of these birds walking among the dinosaurs.
Sandhill
cranes' ancient relatives have nearly the same structure. According to
the International
Crane Foundation, a fossil from 2 million to 5 million years ago
was discovered in Nebraska that appeared almost identical to modern sandhill
cranes.
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