100-million-year-old fossil reveals ancient outback bird

The elongate and fragile nature of the bones are synonymous with birds. ( Supplied: University of New England )

A rare fossil find in outback Queensland has revealed a new species of prehistoric bird that lived more than 100 million years ago.

Roughly the size of a bush turkey, Tenuicruris piscanexum is only the second Australian bird to be formally described from the Cretaceous period.

Researchers hope the discovery can help build a better understanding of Australia's prehistoric bird life and ecology.

An "extremely rare" fossil discovery in outback Queensland has revealed a new species of prehistoric bird that roamed Australia more than 100 million years ago.

While digging in the remains of an ancient inland sea near Richmond, about 500km inland from Townsville, Kevin Petersen uncovered a long, slender bone.

The then-curator of marine fossil museum Kronosaurus Korner sent a picture to University of New England palaeontologist Matt White, who drove to Richmond to have a look.

"I was first looking at bones that looked quite similar in China … over 20 years ago, so I knew exactly what they were," Dr White said.

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