Parrot-like dinosaur lost finger during migration

A new “parrot-like” dinosaur with only two fingers has been discovered, as Scottish scientists said it shows how creatures adapted during migration.

Multiple complete skeletons of the new species, named Oksoko avarsan, were unearthed in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia by a University of Edinburgh-led team. The feathered, omnivorous creatures grew to around two metres long with only two functional digits on each forearm, and also had a large, toothless beak similar to the type seen in parrots today.

The discovery of digit loss within the three-fingered oviraptor family suggests they altered their diets after migrating to new geographic areas.