Where were fossils of *Archaeocorvus meadewaldenis* (AMRI) unearthed?
Answer
North-western Queensland, Australia
The fossils identified as *Archaeocorvus meadewaldenis*, representing the earliest known member of the magpie family, were specifically unearthed in north-western Queensland, located on the ancient Australian continent. This discovery provides crucial geographical context, indicating that the ecological niche occupied by smart, adaptable omnivores like corvids was established in this region much earlier than the divergence of the specific magpie genus *Pica* found later elsewhere. This Australian site marks the world's oldest known fossil for this entire avian family.
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?