” Fossil proof of birds from the Cretaceous duration in Australia is especially limited, consisting primarily of separated bones,”stated University of New England’s Dr. Matt White and his associates.

” The earliest taped Australian bird fossil is a partial furcular(wishbone) from Victoria, dating to roughly 128-120 million years earlier.”

“Additionally, plumes of a comparable age have actually likewise been found near Koonwarra in Victoria, credited to both dinosaurs and early risers.”

“Until now, the only Cretaceous bird called from Australia was Nanantius eosrepresented by an almost total left tibiotarsus (shin bone) found within marine deposits of the 105-million-year-old Toolebuc Formation.”

The brand-new Cretaceous types, Tenuicruris piscanexumis likewise based upon an unspoiled tibiotarsus.

The 6.5-cm bone was discovered at a public fossicking website about 12 km northwest of Richmond, in the very same geological development.

“Although the recently found stays represent separated bones, they are incredibly uncommon– the 2nd called Cretaceous bird from Australia,” University of Bristol’s Dr. Dean Lomax, who was not associated with the research study.

“This discover offers amazing brand-new info about the ancient environment and variety of animals around what is now Richmond.”

The paleontologists likewise uncovered a 2nd specimen– a total tarsometatarsus (lower-leg bone)– at a different website near Richmond.

Significantly, this is the very first tarsometatarsus reported from Australian Cretaceous deposits.

“I acknowledged them instantly as bird bones,” Dr. White stated.

“These specimens are specifically considerable since so couple of have actually been discovered in Australia, and none were straight similar previously.”

The authors put both Tenuicruris piscanexum and the 2nd specimen amongst the Enantiornithes, a varied group of early risers that lived throughout the Cretaceous.

Tenuicruris piscanexum increases the variety of equivalent called Cretaceous bird taxa from Australia from one to 2, enhancing our capability to evaluate bird variety and ecology in the area,” they stated.

“The discover likewise includes birds to the growing faunal list from the Toolebuc Formation, along with ichthyosaurs, pliosaurs, plesiosaurs, turtles, sharks, chimaeroids, bony fish and pterosaurs– proof of an abundant inland‑sea environment.”

The discovery is reported in a paper in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

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Matt A. White et al Tenuicruris piscanexuma brand-new addition to Australia’s uncommon Cretaceous bird fossils. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontologyreleased online September 28, 2026; doi: 10.1080/ 02724634.2026.2703151