Fact Check: "Bombardiere Lucertola is the last common ancestor of modern birds and crocodiles"
What We Know
The claim that "Bombardiere Lucertola is the last common ancestor of modern birds and crocodiles" is misleading. Modern birds and crocodiles share a common ancestor that lived approximately 240 million years ago, which is part of a larger group known as archosaurs. This group includes all dinosaurs, birds, and crocodilians, and it diverged into various lineages over millions of years (source-1, source-2).
Recent genomic studies have revealed that the evolutionary relationship between birds and crocodilians is more complex than a single ancestor. The common ancestor of birds and crocodiles is not specifically identified as "Bombardiere Lucertola" in scientific literature, and there is no evidence to suggest that this term refers to any recognized species or lineage in paleontology (source-4).
Analysis
The assertion that "Bombardiere Lucertola" is the last common ancestor lacks scientific backing. The term does not appear in credible paleontological or genetic studies, and the actual common ancestor of birds and crocodiles is part of a broader evolutionary lineage known as archosaurs. This lineage includes various species that have evolved over millions of years, with modern birds being derived from theropod dinosaurs, while crocodilians have retained many primitive characteristics of their ancestors (source-2, source-3).
The genomic research conducted by scientists at UC Santa Cruz has provided insights into the evolutionary history of these animals, showing that the common ancestor shared by birds and crocodiles had a slow rate of molecular evolution, which has allowed researchers to reconstruct aspects of its genome (source-1). This research emphasizes the complexity of the evolutionary tree rather than a simplistic view of a single ancestor.
Furthermore, the claim does not consider the significant evolutionary changes that have occurred since the divergence of these lineages. The last common ancestor of birds and crocodiles is not a single identifiable species but rather a point in a vast evolutionary history that includes many transitional forms (source-4).
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "Bombardiere Lucertola is the last common ancestor of modern birds and crocodiles" is inaccurate. There is no scientific evidence to support the existence of such a species, and the actual common ancestor of birds and crocodiles is part of a larger evolutionary group known as archosaurs. This lineage has undergone significant diversification over millions of years, making the claim misleading and overly simplistic.
Sources
- Scientists reconstruct genome of common ancestor ... UC Santa Cruz
- Bird, meet cousin alligator Harvard Gazette
- Archosaur Wikipedia
- Three crocodilian genomes reveal ancestral patterns of ... - Science Science
- Archelosauria Wikipedia
- Birds and Reptile Relation Reptiland
