Protoavis

Protoavis is a genus of purported early dinosaur known from a single, incomplete fossil specimen discovered in the Dockum Formation of Texas in 1984 by S. Christopher Parker. Its existence and phylogenetic placement are highly controversial, and the fossil remains have not been made available for independent scientific examination by other paleontologists, which is a significant impediment to verification.

The original interpretation of the specimen by Parker, and later by Gregory S. Paul, suggested that Protoavis predated Archaeopteryx by approximately 75 million years, making it a potentially pivotal transitional form between theropod dinosaurs and birds. They proposed that it possessed a mosaic of bird-like and reptilian features, including hollow bones, a furcula (wishbone), and feathers or proto-feathers. This interpretation would dramatically alter our understanding of avian evolution, suggesting a much earlier origin for birds than is currently accepted.

However, the lack of peer review, the inaccessibility of the original fossil, and conflicting accounts of the fossil's morphology have led most paleontologists to regard Protoavis as dubious or a chimera, potentially a composite of different fossil remains. Skepticism stems from the absence of independent verification and the possibility of misidentification or taphonomic distortion of the fossil material.

The validity of Protoavis remains an open question, pending further discoveries and a thorough, independent scientific re-evaluation of the original specimen, should it become accessible to the broader scientific community. Until then, its status as a genuine early dinosaur, let alone a direct avian ancestor, is highly uncertain.