Scientists Find Missing Link in Bird Evolution

BlueCup writes "Dozens of fossils of an ancient loon-like creature that some say is the missing link in bird evolution have been discovered in northwest China. The remains of 40 of the nearly modern amphibious birds, so well-preserved that some even have their feathers, were found in Gansu province, researchers report in Friday's issue of the journal Science. Previously only a single leg of the creature, known as Gansus yumenensis, had been found."

FSM Strikes Again!

[Jerk City Troll]

They were planted there by the Flying Spaghetti Monster to test the convictions of the faithful!

Missing Link, eh?

[Eideewt]

Wonderful. They may have "found the missing link" but now there are two missing links to take its place!

In related news...

[reklusband]

KFC's stock soared 100 points with the news that the protoduck would be served boneless and with hot sauce. When asked to comment on the decision to serve 100 million year old extinct bird, a kfc representative was quoted as saying "It has to taste better that the cluck we serve now"

In related news...

[Anonymous Coward]

Chinese culinary historians were also very excited by the discovery, noting that this pushes back the date of the earliest known example of Peking duck 110 million years.

Name?

[Comatose51]

Following the naming convention of the "Peking Man" [wikipedia.org], is this one going to be "Peking Duck"?

Re:FSM Strikes Again!

[ozmanjusri]

They never can give any actual citations of research other than a few canned talking points.

Do you have any evidence to support this statement, or is it just something you trot out in every discussion of evolution?

They're liars.

[Anonymous Coward]

There is no such thing as evolution. Flying Spaghetti Monster is the sole being responsible for making the earth and the universe as it is. It is He who put the fossils there so evolutionists would be fooled and the public's faith would be tested. If you believe, then, upon the day of Reckoning, when fiery meatballs fall from the sky and water tastes like marinara sauce, you will be saved.

Scientists agree! Join the Church of the http://www.venganza.org/ [venganza.org]Flying Spaghetti Monster!

Re:FSM Strikes Again!

[Anonymous Coward]

or, as a neighbor in my childhood tried to tell us, "those dinasaur bones are fakes! ...placed there by satan to undermine the faith of us christians"

couldn't resist, sorry

[Aussie]

To this the Duck replied, "What kind of bird are you, if you can't swim?"' - Sergei Prokofiev

Re:FSM Strikes Again!

[Joe Tie.]

Best Coast to Coast exchange I've ever heard.

Guest: And every human racial type is originally from another planet.
Host: Hey! What about dogs! I bet animals might have all had a different home planet too.
Guest: Uhhhhh....sure.
Host: WOW!!!

auntie?

[sc0p3]

they found aunt martha! we've been looking for the old bird for years!

It's Obvious

[123abc]

"The fossils even reveal impressions of feathers, webbed feet and other rare details, though none of the remains include a skull."

These were ducks ready to be butchered, but ran and hid after getting their heads chopped off.