Birds have 2 tails

Paleontologists have recently discovered fossils of 120-million-year-old birds with two tails in China.

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Jeholornis, the oldest bird known in the world, used to live in today's China area along with other prehistoric animals with feathers. Previously, this bird was thought to have only a tail like a propeller. However, the new finding shows that the bird also has a second tail shaped like a leaf.

Simulation image of Jeholornis two-tailed bird.(Photo: National Geographic)

Of the 11 Jeholornis bird fossils , six birds showed signs of a second tail protruding at the rear end and striking upright angles. The fossil was discovered also showed that Jeholornis is similar in size to turkey, with claws on the front legs with 3 small teeth in the lower jaw.

Like today's male peacocks with colorful tail feathers to attract mates, male Jeholornis birds also have an eye-catching leaf tail.

Researchers believe that the second leaf-shaped tail plays a stable role in flights for ancient birds and when the arrangement and allocation of feathers prove to be convenient enough Flying, modern birds may have evolved to perform flight features with just one tail.