Missing Link To Crocodile/Avian/Mammalian Past Rediscovered At
Museum of Natural History By Elaine Meinel Supkis Researchers
noticed what looked like a crocodile ankle poking out of a very
old cast stored in the Museum's back rooms. Upon opening it, the
fossil, which hasn't been seen in many years, turned out to be
an important missing link from right after the great Permian
extinction. From National Geographic News: Ankle aside, Effigia
had large eyes, a long tail, and a toothless beak—not unlike the
ostrich dinosaurs.Untangling the tree of life is a challenge.
When we apply genetic tools, it is always surprising and filling
out the record by classifying fossils enables us to understand
all the many odd things that happened in the past for evolution
is all about things happening. Effigia also walked on two feet,
unlike modern crocs. These physical similarities suggest that
Effigia and the ornithomimid dinosaurs evolved similarly during
two different eras, the scientists say. The fossil record shows
that many