Discovery of fossil “voice box” of Antarctic bird suggests dinosaurs couldn't sing.

A team led by the University of Texas discovered an ancient vocal organ in a bird-related species from the age of dinosaurs. This organ, called a syrinx, was absent in non-bird dinosaur fossils, suggesting it evolved after the origin of flight. The discovery was made in a fossil species named Vegavis iae, found in Antarctica. The research provides insights into the evolution of bird calls and suggests dinosaurs may have made sounds similar to ostrich booms. The fossil was discovered in 1992 and analyzed in 2013, offering clues to the origins of birdsong.

What did the National Science Foundation funded team discover in a bird species related to ducks and geese?

• A new type of feather

• A new dinosaur species

• An ancient vocal organ called a sea rings

• A fossilized egg

What is the significance of the absence of sea rings in non-bird dinosaur fossils?

• It suggests dinosaurs could fly

• It shows dinosaurs had feathers

• It indicates dinosaurs had different vocal capabilities

• It proves dinosaurs were silent

What type of sounds might other dinosaurs have made according to the research?

• Complex bird songs

• High-pitched whistles

• Closed-mouth sounds similar to ostrich booms

• Loud roars

Where was the fossil species Vegavis iaai discovered?

• In the Sahara Desert

• On Vega Island in the Antarctic Peninsula

• In the Amazon Rainforest

• In the Rocky Mountains

What is the ongoing research trying to uncover about dinosaurs?

• Their extinction cause

• What they sounded like

• Their migration patterns

• Their diet