Flamingos are birds that attract attention with their brightly colored feathers and graceful posture. However, recent findings by scientists from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) allow us to look back in time and learn more about the life of these birds millennia ago.
During the construction of the Felipe Angeles International Airport in Mexico, a fossilized flamingo egg between 8,000 and 12,000 years old was discovered. This is the first such find on the territory of continental America and it is of great interest to scientists.
The fossil egg is about 9.5 centimeters long and 5.5 centimeters wide. It was found at a depth of 31 centimeters in a clay layer of soil. This indicates that it is well preserved and allows scientists to conduct a detailed study.
Today, flamingos are found in South America, the Caribbean, the Yucatan Peninsula and parts of the United States. However, the discovery of this fossilized egg indicates that flamingos have been present in the region for many millennia. This suggests that these birds have adapted to the climatic conditions and continue to exist for a long time.
The discovery also allows scientists to draw conclusions about the climatic changes that occurred during the transitional period between the Pleistocene and Holocene. During this time, the climate was wetter and a shallow salt lake existed in Mexico. The discovery of the fossilized egg confirms that flamingos were part of the lacustrine landscapes of Central Mexico and indicates the significant changes that occurred in the environment.
INAH researchers note that changes in the lakescapes could have been caused by glaciation and volcanic activity. This supports the hypothesis of natural factors influencing climate and flamingo habitat change.
Thus, the discovery of a fossilized flamingo egg becomes an important artifact in the study of the history of these birds and the environment. It allows scientists to better understand how flamingos have adapted to changing conditions and continue to exist today.
