Ancient Bird-Like Footprints Challenge Evolutionary Timeline

Geologists have discovered fossilized footprints of bird-like tracks that are 210 million years old, predating the arrival of true birds by 60 million years. The footprints, found in Lesotho, resemble bird tracks with slender toes and a wider shape. The findings suggest that bird feet evolved much earlier than previously thought, challenging the understanding of the timing of bird evolution. The footprints could belong to the earliest known ancestor of modern birds or a dinosaur in the near-bird lineage, or they could be a case of convergent evolution. This discovery highlights the ongoing mysteries surrounding the evolution of birds and their reptilian ancestors.