Vegavis

Vegavis; Temporal range: Maastrichtian; ~68–66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
	Life restoration based on the 2017 study by Angolín et al.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	†Vegaviiformes
Family:	†Vegaviidae
Genus:	†Vegavis; Clarke et al. 2005
Species:	†V. iaai
Binomial name
	Vegavis iaai; Clarke et al. 2005

Vegavis is a genus of extinct bird that lived during the latest Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica, some 66 million years ago (mya). Among modern birds, It is most closely related to ducks and geese (Anatidae).^[1] The discovery shows that some of the major groups of bird alive today had already diversified in the Cretaceous. It has been hailed as the first definite physical proof that birds from some of the modern groups lived in the Mesozoic.^[1] The Vegavis fossil specimen is held by the Museo de La Plata, Argentina. The very delicate remains of one bird are embedded in rock. Tomography (CT) scans were used to get a clearer picture of the bone structure without damaging or destroying the fossil.^[1]

Cladogram containing *Vegavis* and related species

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Clarke J.A.et al 2005. Definitive fossil evidence for the extant avian radiation in the Cretaceous. Nature, 433: 305-308. [1]

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[clarkeetal2005-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Clarke J.A.et al 2005. Definitive fossil evidence for the extant avian radiation in the Cretaceous. Nature, 433: 305-308. [1]

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