Confuciusornis
Hacker, Randi Martin, Larry D.
Hacker, Randi
Martin, Larry D.
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Abstract
Broadcast Transcript: Well, it's time to add another item to that long list you're keeping of Things China Had First. This time it's birds. More specifically, one prehistoric bird called confuciusornis sanctus. Or holy Confucius bird. Though it is younger by about 10 million years than archaeopteryx, holder of the Earliest Avian Ancestor title, it belongs on the list because of one important distinguishing characteristic: it is the first bird ancestor with a horny toothless beak along the lines of those sported by modern birds. Also, thanks to confuciusornis and the many bird fossils that have been unearthed in China since, paleontologists have new evidence that flight evolved from the trees down and not from the ground up. Holy Confucius bird, Batman! Don't that "beak" all? #ceas #china #hacker #martin
Description
This is one of hundreds of 60-second radio spots created by the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) for Kansas Public Radio (KPR). The purpose of this outreach program is to introduce the people of Kansas to the culture and current issues of East Asia.
Date
2009-06-17
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Publisher
Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas
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Keywords
China, Confuciusornis Sanctus, Martin, Larry D., Archaeopteryx, University Of Kansas, Confucius