Early evolution of the biological bird: perspectives from new fossil discoveries in China DOI
Jingmai K. O’Connor,

Zhonghe Zhou

Journal of Ornithology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 156(S1), P. 333 - 342

Published: April 20, 2015

Language: Английский

Fossilized melanosomes and the colour of Cretaceous dinosaurs and birds DOI
Fucheng Zhang,

Stuart Kearns,

Patrick J. Orr

et al.

Nature, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 463(7284), P. 1075 - 1078

Published: Jan. 27, 2010

Language: Английский

Citations

278

Cope's rule and the adaptive landscape of dinosaur body size evolution DOI Open Access
Roger Benson, Gene Hunt, Matthew T. Carrano

et al.

Palaeontology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 61(1), P. 13 - 48

Published: Oct. 22, 2017

Abstract The largest known dinosaurs weighed at least 20 million times as much the smallest, indicating exceptional phenotypic divergence. Previous studies have focused on extreme giant sizes, tests of Cope's rule, and miniaturization line leading to birds. We use non‐uniform macroevolutionary models based Ornstein–Uhlenbeck trend processes unify these observations, asking: what patterns evolutionary rates, directionality constraint explain diversification dinosaur body mass? find that evolution is constrained by attraction discrete size optima undergo rare, but abrupt, shifts. This model explains both rarity multi‐lineage directional trends, occurrence abrupt excursions during origins groups such tiny pygostylian birds sauropods. Most expansion trait space results from constraint‐breaking innovations in just a small number lineages. These lineages shifted rapidly into novel regions space, occasionally most often large or sizes. As with Cenozoic mammals, intermediate sizes were typically attained only transiently trajectory size. demonstrates bimodality adaptive landscape for land vertebrates has existed more than 200 years.

Language: Английский

Citations

173

Origin and Evolution of Birds DOI
Gary Ritchison

Fascinating life sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 154

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

Citations

44

A bizarre Jurassic maniraptoran from China with elongate ribbon-like feathers DOI
Fucheng Zhang,

Zhonghe Zhou,

Xing Xu

et al.

Nature, Journal Year: 2008, Volume and Issue: 455(7216), P. 1105 - 1108

Published: Oct. 1, 2008

Language: Английский

Citations

277

An Early Cretaceous heterodontosaurid dinosaur with filamentous integumentary structures DOI
Xiaoting Zheng, Hai‐Lu You, Xing Xu

et al.

Nature, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 458(7236), P. 333 - 336

Published: March 1, 2009

Language: Английский

Citations

180

High-precision 40Ar/39Ar age for the Jehol Biota DOI
Su‐Chin Chang, Haichun Zhang, Paul R. Renne

et al.

Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 280(1-2), P. 94 - 104

Published: June 22, 2009

Language: Английский

Citations

174

Pre‐modern Birds: Avian Divergences in the Mesozoic DOI
Jingmai K. O’Connor, Luis M. Chiappe,

Alyssa Bell

et al.

Published: April 8, 2011

This chapter contains sections titled: The Theropod Hypothesis of the Origin Birds Mesozoic Aviary Phylogenetic Hypotheses Early Evolution Conclusions Acknowledgments Appendix 3A 3B References

Language: Английский

Citations

152

The Jehol Biota, an Early Cretaceous terrestrial Lagerstätte: new discoveries and implications DOI Creative Commons

Zhonghe Zhou

National Science Review, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 1(4), P. 543 - 559

Published: Sept. 6, 2014

Abstract The study of the Early Cretaceous terrestrial Jehol Biota, which provides a rare window for reconstruction Lower ecosystem, is reviewed with focus on some latest progress. A newly proposed definition biota based paleoecology and taphonomy accepted. Although fossils are mainly preserved in two types sedimentary rocks, there various preservation complex mechanism that remains to be understood. New discoveries significant taxa from an updated introduction its diversity, confirm Biota represents one most diversified biotas Mesozoic. evolutionary significance major biological groups (e.g. dinosaurs, birds, mammals, pterosaurs, insects, plants) discussed light recent discoveries, remarkable aspects highlighted. global local geological, paleogeographic, paleoenvironmental background have contributed unique composition, evolution, biota, demonstrating widespread faunal exchanges between Asia other continents caused by presence Eurasia–North American continental mass link South America, confirming northeastern China as origin diversification center variety groups. progress has been made paleotemperature at time much more work needed possible diversity cold intervals during Cretaceous. Finally, future directions highlight great potential comprehensive multidisciplinary studies further our understanding geological implications Lagerstätte.

Language: Английский

Citations

140

Vertebrate diversity of the Jehol Biota as compared with other lagerstätten DOI

Zhonghe Zhou,

Yuan Wang

Science China Earth Sciences, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 53(12), P. 1894 - 1907

Published: Nov. 30, 2010

Language: Английский

Citations

139

The oldest record of ornithuromorpha from the early cretaceous of China DOI Creative Commons
Min Wang, Xiaoting Zheng, Jingmai K. O’Connor

et al.

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: May 5, 2015

Ornithuromorpha is the most inclusive clade containing extant birds but not Mesozoic Enantiornithes. The early evolutionary history of this avian has been advanced with recent discoveries from Cretaceous deposits, indicating that and Enantiornithes are two major groups in Mesozoic. Here we report on a new ornithuromorph bird, Archaeornithura meemannae gen. et sp. nov., second oldest avian-bearing deposits (130.7 Ma) world. taxon referable to Hongshanornithidae constitutes record Ornithuromorpha. However, A. shows few primitive features relative younger hongshanornithids deeply nested within Hongshanornithidae, suggesting already well established. discovery extends by five six million years, which turn pushes back divergence times lingeages into Early Cretaceous.

Language: Английский

Citations

134