--- title: "Owl Fossil Discovery in Germany Challenges Previous Understanding of Evolutionary History" url: https://newscentral.site/owl-fossil-discovery-in-germany-challenges-previous-understanding/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Science" published: 2026-11-06T17:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-11-07T00:34:10.141Z id: 3551e1ab-14d1-4e4d-bcb1-194e290d93bc source: "Live Science https://www.livescience.com/animals/birds/perfectly-preserved-owl-fossil-from-47-million-years-ago-could-help-to-solve-a-major-evolutionary-mystery" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/owl-fossil-discovery-in-germany-challenges-previous-understanding/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Owl Fossil Discovery in Germany Challenges Previous Understanding of Evolutionary History A 47 million-year-old owl fossil found in Germany is providing new insights into when owls transitioned from a diurnal to nocturnal lifestyle. A remarkable discovery has been made by researchers in Germany, shedding new light on the evolutionary history of owls. A 47 million-year-old owl fossil, unearthed in the Messel Pit in 2025, is providing crucial insights into when these birds transitioned from a diurnal to nocturnal lifestyle. The fossil, named Masillastrix blattophaga, was found almost perfectly preserved, with its last meal still intact in its stomach. The remnants of this meal reveal that the owl was hunting during the day, feeding on an iridescent cockroach. This finding is significant because it suggests that owls did not become nocturnal 47 million years ago. The presence of iridescence in the cockroach's exoskeleton is a key indicator of its diurnal lifestyle. Researchers have found that iridescence is often associated with daytime activity, which implies that the owl was also active during this time period. This inference is supported by the fact that owls typically exhibit iridescent colors on their feathers. The fossil itself measures less than 5 inches in length and appears to be a juvenile owl. Its relatively small size may indicate that it was still learning essential hunting skills, but its ability to catch an iridescent cockroach suggests that it was already proficient at finding prey during the day. According to Gerald Mayr, the study's first author, this discovery has important implications for our understanding of owl evolution. He believes that owls must have transitioned to a nocturnal lifestyle more recently than previously thought, and that further research is needed to pinpoint exactly when and why this shift occurred. The discovery of a perfectly preserved owl fossil from 47 million years ago has sparked renewed interest in understanding the evolutionary history of these birds. Researchers have long believed that owls evolved from diurnal ancestors due to similarities between early owl fossils and those of diurnal raptors. Several key features support this theory, including head-rotation structures and bony ridges above the eye sockets that could have shielded the owls' eyes from sunlight. These characteristics are often associated with birds that are active during the day rather than at night. The shape of the owl's upper wing bones also points to a diurnal lifestyle, according to researchers. They believe that this particular feature is an indicator of when owls are most active. Further evidence for the owl's daytime habits can be seen in its feathers and the stoutness of its upper wing bones. These traits are consistent with those found in modern birds that are active during daylight hours. The presence of a cockroach identical to one found inside the Messel owl's stomach in nearby sediments has also shed light on the bird's behavior. The stocky humeri of the Messel owl provide a clue to its daily habits. Unlike modern nocturnal owls that have slender humeri and fly almost silently, this fossil suggests that it was active during daylight hours when visibility is not affected by darkness. Researchers examining the well-preserved fossil found evidence that points to the owl's last meal - a cockroach likely consumed before its demise. The presence of this insect in the owl's stomach adds another layer of information about the bird's behavior and habitat. The Messel owl's similarities with modern owls are not limited to just its humeri. Fossils from the Late Eocene period, around 35 million years ago, show a gradual shift towards more elongated humeri, similar to those found in contemporary nocturnal species. However, these fossils also share striking similarities with their earlier counterparts, indicating that owls likely evolved over time. This evolution may have involved a shift in their behavior from diurnal to nocturnal activity. The oldest known owl fossil, Ogygoptynx wetmorei, dates back approximately 60 million years. Given the sparsity of the owl fossil record and the limited information available about each species, researchers rely on these findings to estimate when owls may have become nocturnal. This period of transition likely occurred between 47 million and 35 million years ago. While this is currently the most accurate estimate based on existing data, further discoveries could potentially alter our understanding of owl evolution and behavior. The new findings have cast further doubt on previous theories attempting to explain why owls evolved to be active at night. These theories suggested that owls turned nocturnal to avoid competition with diurnal birds of prey or to take advantage of a surge in nocturnal mammals. Studies have shown, however, that both these groups experienced significant growth much later than 35 million years ago, around 20-25 million years ago. This makes it unlikely that there was a clear advantage driving owls to switch to nocturnal lifestyles at the time they are believed to have done so. Despite this uncertainty, researchers remain hopeful that their study may eventually shed light on this long-standing mystery by narrowing down the timeframe in which owls became nocturnal. --- Source: [Live Science](https://www.livescience.com/animals/birds/perfectly-preserved-owl-fossil-from-47-million-years-ago-could-help-to-solve-a-major-evolutionary-mystery) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/owl-fossil-discovery-in-germany-challenges-previous-understanding/