Hubert Sneed of the College of Ornithology of Mudbury University has announced his discovery of a new species of bird.
'This is the thrill of a lifetime', said Sneed. 'With all the warnings about the loss of biodiversity and species worldwide, this discovery is like a beacon of hope.'
Sneed discovered the yet-unnamed bird species while doing a survey of the rain forests of the Papuan peninsula.
He says the bird is featherless and wingless. Furthermore, it has no legs.
'What is more', he added at a press conference, 'this bird is exclusively aquatic. Its entire life cycle is spent in the water, which is quite unique in the annals of ornithology.'
'It also has two curious frill-like structures, one on each side of its head.'
Bertram Livingston, also of Mudbury University, dismissed Sneed's claim with a guffaw.
'It's not a bird, it's a fish', Livingston said. 'Mistakes like this are easily made when one works outside of one's area of specialty.'
