Eogranivora

Eogranivora is the only Early Cretaceous ornithuromorph bird that has direct evidence of eating seeds.1

It had no teeth at all, which is unusual for a bird from its time. Many other early birds still had small teeth.1

Eogranivora had no hallux, the backward-pointing toe that most birds use to perch. This suggests it lived on the ground.1

Its fossil was first thought to be a different bird called Hongshanornis, but scientists later realized it was a new species.2

The fossil preserves at least 15 seeds inside the crop area, each about 4.3 mm long.1

Eogranivora lived about 125 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.1