A group of scientists, including one of Indian ethnic origin, have discovered the '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.
Archaeopteryx is famous as the worlds oldest bird, but reptiles were flying about some 50 million years earlier than that (225 million years ago), even before large dinosaurs roamed the Earth. A new study of extinct reptiles called kuehneosaurs, by scientists from the University of Bristol, England, shows that these early flyers used extraordinary extensions of their ribs to form large gliding surfaces on the side of the body. The results are published today (15 July) in Palaeontology.