Remains discovered in Madagascar

Only the back of the fossilised skeleton has been found but Dr Catherine Forster, of New York State University, says her discovery is alongside Archaeopteryx - the most ancient bird-like fossil ever found.

Like birds, Rahona had feathers and a reversed thumb allowing it to perch in trees.

But it also shared features, such as a slashing claw, with velociraptors, the flying killers immortalised in Jurassic park.

The weaponry would have made it a fearsome predator to anything smaller than itself.

But like the modern duck-billed platypus Rahona was a creature out of time even during its heyday.