Assessing ontogenetic maturity in extinct saurian reptiles DOI
Christopher T. Griffin, Michelle R. Stocker, Caitlin Colleary

et al.

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 96(2), P. 470 - 525

Published: Dec. 2, 2020

ABSTRACT Morphology forms the most fundamental level of data in vertebrate palaeontology because it is through interpretations morphology that taxa are identified, creating basis for broad evolutionary and palaeobiological hypotheses. Assessing maturity one basic aspects morphological interpretation provides means to study evolution ontogenetic changes, population structure palaeoecology, life‐history strategies, heterochrony along lineages would otherwise be lost time. Saurian reptiles (the least‐inclusive clade containing Lepidosauria Archosauria) have remained an incredibly diverse, numerous, disparate their ~260‐million‐year history. Because great disparity this group, assessing saurian difficult, fraught with methodological terminological ambiguity. We compiled a novel database literature, assembling >900 individual instances assessment, examine critically how has been diagnosed. review often inexact inconsistent terminology used assessment (e.g. ‘juvenile’, ‘mature’) provide routes better clarity cross‐study coherence. describe various methods assess every major integrating from both extant extinct give full account current state field providing method‐specific pitfalls, best practices, fruitful directions future research. recommend new standard subsection, ‘Ontogenetic Assessment’, added Systematic Palaeontology portions descriptive studies explicit diagnoses clear criteria. utility different criteria highly subclade dependent among saurians, even widely neurocentral suture fusion), we phylogenetic context, preferably form bracket, justify use method. Different should conjunction as independent lines evidence when maturity, instead diagnosis resting entirely on single criterion, which common literature. Critically, there need well‐represented growth series integrated fossil record ground assessments well‐constrained, empirically tested methods.

Language: Английский

A pre-Archaeopteryx troodontid theropod from China with long feathers on the metatarsus DOI
Dongyu Hu,

Lianhai Hou,

Li‐Jun Zhang

et al.

Nature, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 461(7264), P. 640 - 643

Published: Sept. 24, 2009

Language: Английский

Citations

351
A Review of Dromaeosaurid Systematics and Paravian Phylogeny DOI Open Access
Alan H. Turner, Peter J. Makovicky,

Mark A. Norell

et al.

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 371, P. 1 - 206

Published: Aug. 17, 2012

Coelurosauria is the most diverse clade of theropod dinosaurs. Much this diversity present in Paraves—the dinosaurs containing dromaeosaurids, troodontids, and avialans. Paraves has over 160 million years evolutionary history that continues to day. The represents living tetrapod group (there are 9000 extant species Aves—a word used here as synonomous with "bird"), it at root paravian radiation, when avialans were diverging from one another, we find morphology soft tissue changes associated origin modern avian flight. Within first 15 known members exhibited a difference nearly four orders magnitude body size, value similar extreme size disparity today mammalian carnivorans, avians, varanoid squamates. In respect, an important case study characterizing patterns, processes, dynamics change. This last point particular interest because historical significance placed on role reduction powered flight.Our reviews revises membership Dromaeosauridae provides apomorphy-based diagnosis for all valid taxa. Of currently 31 named dromaeosaurid species, found 26 be valid. We provide detailed comprehensive phylogenetic analysis paravians date order explore general pattern relationships explored within broader context emphasis sampling basal avialans, their importance character optimizations base Paraves.A large dataset was constructed by merging two datasets, examining coelurosaur broadly (based previous TWiG datasets) other avialan specifically (Clarke et al., 2006). merged then significantly revised supplemented novel focusing During analysis, attention given Dromaeosauridae, enigmatic such Jinfengopteryx elegans Anchiornis huxleyi, incorporation new morphological information undescribed troodontid Late Cretaceous Mongolia. A final 474 characters scored 111 taxa address evolution. bridges gap had persisted between studies birds coelurosaurs. Most scorings matrix based direct observation specimens.All parsimonious trees recovered cladistic support monophyly Paraves, Troodontidae, Deinonychosauria. troodontids discovered including Mongolian elegans. Xiaotingia form Troodontidae. Recently proposed further supported succession clades Gondwana Asia sister Laurasian dromaeosaurids. Avialan strongly Archaeopteryx, Sapeornis, Jeholornis, Jixiangornis forming successive Confuciusornis node. topology supports more position Sapeornis than analyses indicates progressive acquisition fully "avian" shoulder morphology.

Language: Английский

Citations

323
An Archaeopteryx-like theropod from China and the origin of Avialae DOI
Xing Xu, Hai‐Lu You, Kai Du

et al.

Nature, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 475(7357), P. 465 - 470

Published: July 1, 2011

Language: Английский

Citations

299
An integrative approach to understanding bird origins DOI
Xing Xu,

Zhonghe Zhou,

Robert Dudley

et al.

Science, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 346(6215)

Published: Dec. 11, 2014

Recent discoveries of spectacular dinosaur fossils overwhelmingly support the hypothesis that birds are descended from maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs, and furthermore, demonstrate distinctive bird characteristics such as feathers, flight, endothermic physiology, unique strategies for reproduction growth, a novel pulmonary system originated among Mesozoic terrestrial dinosaurs. The transition ground-living to flight-capable dinosaurs now probably represents one best-documented major evolutionary transitions in life history. studies developmental biology other disciplines provide additional insights into how evolved. iconic features extant most part evolved gradual stepwise fashion throughout archosaur evolution. However, new data also highlight occasional bursts morphological novelty at certain stages particularly close origin an unavoidable complex, mosaic distribution on tree. Research origins provides premier example paleontological neontological can interact reveal complexity innovations, answer key questions, lead research directions. A better understanding requires multifaceted integrative approaches, yet necessarily final test any model.

Language: Английский

Citations

296
Gradual Assembly of Avian Body Plan Culminated in Rapid Rates of Evolution across the Dinosaur-Bird Transition DOI Creative Commons
Stephen L. Brusatte, Graeme T. Lloyd, Steve C. Wang

et al.

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 24(20), P. 2386 - 2392

Published: Sept. 25, 2014

Language: Английский

Citations

294
The origin and early radiation of dinosaurs DOI
Stephen L. Brusatte, Sterling J. Nesbitt,

Randall B. Irmis

et al.

Earth-Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 101(1-2), P. 68 - 100

Published: May 5, 2010

Language: Английский

Citations

282
A bizarre Jurassic maniraptoran theropod with preserved evidence of membranous wings DOI
Xing Xu, Xiaoting Zheng, Corwin Sullivan

et al.

Nature, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 521(7550), P. 70 - 73

Published: April 28, 2015

Language: Английский

Citations

240
Evolution of the carnivorous dinosaurs during the Cretaceous: The evidence from Patagonia DOI
Fernando E. Novas, Federico L. Agnolín, Martín D. Ezcurra

et al.

Cretaceous Research, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 45, P. 174 - 215

Published: July 27, 2013

Language: Английский

Citations

219
A Jurassic avialan dinosaur from China resolves the early phylogenetic history of birds DOI
Pascal Godefroit, Andrea Cau, Dongyu Hu

et al.

Nature, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 498(7454), P. 359 - 362

Published: May 28, 2013

Language: Английский

Citations

206
Temperature, metabolic power and the evolution of endothermy DOI
Andrew Clarke, Hans‐Otto Pörtner

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 85(4), P. 703 - 727

Published: Jan. 25, 2010

Endothermy has evolved at least twice, in the precursors to modern mammals and birds. The most widely accepted explanation for evolution of endothermy been selection enhanced aerobic capacity. We review this hypothesis light advances our understanding ATP generation by mitochondria muscle performance. Together with development isotope-based techniques measurement metabolic rate free-ranging vertebrates these have confirmed importance scope endothermy: absolute scope, power output are all strongly temperature-dependent, indicating that there would significant improvement whole-organism locomotor ability a warmer body. New data on mitochondrial proton leak suggest thermal physiology may differ between organisms contrasting ecology flexibility. recent biophysical modelling, strengthens long-held view originated smaller, active eurythermal ectotherms living cool but variable environment. propose rather than being secondary consequence an body was means which achieved. This modified requires rise insulation necessary retain heat arose early lineages leading birds mammals. Large dinosaurs were warm, not endotherms, status pterosaurs remains unresolved.

Language: Английский

Citations

240