What species is the oldest known fossil belonging to the magpie family Corvidae?
Answer
*Archaeocorvus meadewaldenis*
The oldest known fossil belonging specifically to the magpie family, Corvidae, is identified as *Archaeocorvus meadewaldenis* (abbreviated AMRI). This fossil discovery is significant because it establishes the presence of the broader corvid niche very early in avian history. The finding dates back an impressive 25 million years, placing this ancient relative in the Oligocene epoch, long before the specific genus *Pica* began to diverge and establish its own distinct fossil record.
Related Questions
What species is the oldest known fossil belonging to the magpie family Corvidae?Where were fossils of *Archaeocorvus meadewaldenis* (AMRI) unearthed?How old are the fossils identified as *Pica praepica* from New Zealand?To which geological epoch does the 25-million-year-old *Archaeocorvus meadewaldenis* date?What is the genus classification for modern magpies like the Eurasian Magpie?What is the approximate age difference between the earliest *family* and *genus* ancestors?Which region yielded fossils clearly identifying the direct ancestral line of the *Pica* genus?What enduring characteristic allowed the lineage of modern magpies to persist across vast timescales?What cognitive trait's foundations were likely established in *Pica praepica* 19 million years ago?What specific field mark helps differentiate modern North American *Pica* species like Black-billed and Yellow-billed?