Archaeornithura meemannae

Modern birds may have evolved six million years earlier than thought, say palaeontologists after analysing the fossil remains of a previously unknown prehistoric relative.  The extinct species, of which two fossils were discovered in China's northeastern Hebei province about two years ago, is the oldest known relative of all birds alive today.  The new bird, named Archaeornithura meemannae, shared many features with its modern cousins, apart from tiny, sharp claws on its wings.  It stood about 15 centimetres tall on two legs that had no feathers — suggesting it may have been a wader from a lake shore environment.