Protoavis

Protoavis is a controversial genus of early bird-like archosaur from the Late Triassic period. The name Protoavis means "first bird," and it was named by Sankar Chatterjee in 1991. The genus is based on fragmentary and disarticulated remains found in the Dockum Group of Texas, United States.

Discovery

The remains of Protoavis were discovered in 1984 by Sankar Chatterjee. The fossils were found in the Dockum Group, a geological formation that dates back to the Late Triassic period, approximately 210 million years ago. The discovery site is located in Texas, United States.

Description

Protoavis is known from two partial skeletons, which include fragments of the skull, vertebrae, limbs, and other bones. The total length of Protoavis is estimated to be around 35 centimeters. The remains are highly fragmentary, making it difficult to reconstruct the animal with certainty.

Controversy

The classification of Protoavis has been highly controversial. Chatterjee claimed that Protoavis represents an early bird, predating the well-known Archaeopteryx by about 75 million years. This claim has been met with skepticism by many paleontologists, who argue that the remains are too fragmentary to support such a conclusion. Some researchers suggest that the fossils may belong to a non-avian theropod or even a mix of different species.

Significance

If Protoavis is indeed an early bird, it would significantly alter our understanding of the evolution of birds and their relationship to dinosaurs. It would suggest that the origin of birds occurred much earlier than previously thought. However, due to the fragmentary nature of the fossils and the ongoing debate, Protoavis remains a controversial and enigmatic figure in paleontology.

See also

• Archaeopteryx
• Theropoda
• Bird evolution
• Triassic period