Posted on 07/18/2008 9:45:59 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
LONDON: A group of scientists, including one of Indian origin, has discovered "world's first bird" that lived 235 million years ago.
In the landmark study, published by the Paleontological Association, experts unveiled an extraordinary prehistoric lizard-like "flying" reptile which lived 235 million years ago. The scientific community believes that birds descended from reptiles 50 million years later making the kuehneosaurs the world's first "bird".
The long-extinct species, which inhabited the warm late Triassic period from 235 to 200 million years ago, was first discovered in the UK.
According to experts, the kuehneosaurs, which grew up to 2 feet, used extensions of their ribs to form large gliding surfaces on the sides of their body.
Earlier this year, experts from Bristol University built lifesize models of the two types of kuehneosaurs found in the UK - kuehneosuchus and kuehneosaurus. "Surprisingly, we found that kuehneosuchus was aerodynamically very stable.
Jumping from a tree, it could have crossed 9m before landing on the ground," said German palaeobiologist Koen Stein, who led the study.
The middle finger?
They didn't answer the most important question: did it taste like chicken?
If this is a set up for a joke combining British slang and Helen Thomas someone is going to get punched.
And this is pertinent because . . . ?
I was going to right, did the bird look like a cross between Helen Thomas (who looks extinct) and Nancy Pelosi (who should be extinct).
Oh, I just did.
Let’s put both on the Endangered Feces list.
Or Egg?
I can cover 9 meters jumping from a tree depending on the hight of the tree.
Because the article is from The Times of India?
yitbos
Your forward momentum is only going to carry you so far, irrespective of the amount of time before gravity brings you in contact with the ground. So, unless you can long jump (out of a tree) for about 30 feet - in which case you should probably be busy preparing for your upcoming trip to Beijing - I highly doubt you could succeed in meeting your boast.
Pray tell, look it up where?
You are proposing infinite energy, since you would be facing momentum stealing factors such as friction without a source of renewal for your lateral motion. So again I reiterate that if you can produce enough momentum to obtain a ballistic trajectory that carries you 30 feet, you are an Olympic quality jumper. And if you can produce this momentum from a perch in a tree, then you certainly could pale the likes of Jesse Owens and Mike Powell, et al.
Neither the pterosaur group of reptiles nor birds have wings which are based on extensions of their ribs. The pterosaur's wings are based on their fingers and bird wings are derived entirely from the arms. This makes no evolutionary sense.
They kept trying for millions of years while at the same time flailing front legs until it finally worked?
yitbos
Can we at least get a final decision on the “Chicken or Egg” debate?
yitbos
9M....Just like a turkey...
And this is pertinent because . . . ?
It explains the curry flavor in the dish they prepared...
Ah. That makes sense.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.