Bird neurocranial and body mass evolution across the end-Cretaceous mass extinction: The avian brain shape left other dinosaurs behind

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 7(31)

Published: July 30, 2021

Ecological or sensory system shifts associated with brain shape and size change may have contributed to unique avian survivorship.

Language: Английский

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Whence the birds: 200 years of dinosaurs, avian antecedents

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Among the most revolutionary insights emerging from 200 years of research on dinosaurs is that clade Dinosauria represented by approximately 11 000 living species birds. Although origin birds among has been reviewed extensively, recent have witnessed tremendous progress in our understanding deep evolutionary origins numerous distinctive avian anatomical systems. These advances enabled exciting new fossil discoveries, leading to an ever-expanding phylogenetic framework with which pinpoint characteristic features. The present review focuses four notable systems whose Mesozoic history greatly clarified discoveries: brain, kinetic palate, pectoral girdle and postcranial skeletal pneumaticity.

Language: Английский

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An Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird with a pintail

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(21), P. 4845 - 4852.e2

Published: Sept. 16, 2021

Language: Английский

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Cretaceous ornithurine supports a neognathous crown bird ancestor

Nature, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 612(7938), P. 100 - 105

Published: Nov. 30, 2022

Language: Английский

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Late Cretaceous bird from Madagascar reveals unique development of beaks

Nature, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 588(7837), P. 272 - 276

Published: Nov. 25, 2020

Language: Английский

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Birds have peramorphic skulls, too: anatomical network analyses reveal oppositional heterochronies in avian skull evolution

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: April 24, 2020

Abstract In contrast to the vast majority of reptiles, skulls adult crown birds are characterized by a high degree integration due bone fusion, e.g., an ontogenetic event generating net reduction in number bones. To understand this process evolutionary context, we investigate postnatal changes bird and non-avian theropods using anatomical network analysis ( AnNA ). Due greater bones contacts, early juvenile have less integrated skulls, resembling their theropod ancestors, including Archaeopteryx lithographica Ichthyornis dispars . Phylogenetic comparisons indicate that skull fusion resulting modular represent peramorphosis (developmental exaggeration ancestral trait) evolved late during avialan evolution, at origin crown-birds. Succeeding general paedomorphic shape trend, occurrence additional reflects mosaic complexity avian evolution.

Language: Английский

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Fossil basicranium clarifies the origin of the avian central nervous system and inner ear

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1983)

Published: Sept. 28, 2022

Among terrestrial vertebrates, only crown birds (Neornithes) rival mammals in terms of relative brain size and behavioural complexity. Relatedly, the anatomy avian central nervous system associated sensory structures, such as vestibular inner ear, are highly modified with respect to those other extant reptile lineages. However, a dearth three-dimensional Mesozoic fossils has limited our knowledge origins distinctive endocranial structures birds. Traits an expanded, flexed brain, ventral connection between spinal column, have been regarded exclusive Neornithes. Here, we demonstrate all these ‘advanced’ traits undistorted braincase from Upper Cretaceous enantiornithine bonebed southeastern Brazil. Our discovery suggests that bird-like may originated prior split Enantiornithes more crownward portion phylogeny over 140 Ma, while coexisting remarkably plesiomorphic cranial base posterior palate region. Altogether, results support interpretation morphologies their relatives affected by complex trade-offs spatial constraints during development.

Language: Английский

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Earliest evidence for fruit consumption and potential seed dispersal by birds

eLife, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Aug. 9, 2022

The Early Cretaceous diversification of birds was a major event in the history terrestrial ecosystems, occurring during earliest phase Terrestrial Revolution, long before origin bird crown-group. Frugivorous play an important role seed dispersal today. However, evidence fruit consumption early from outside crown-group has been lacking. Jeholornis is one earliest-diverging birds, only slightly more crownward than Archaeopteryx, but its cranial anatomy poorly understood, limiting trophic information which may be gleaned skull. Originally hypothesised to granivorous based on seeds preserved as gut contents, this interpretation become controversial. We conducted high-resolution synchrotron tomography exquisitely new skull Jeholornis, revealing remarkable plesiomorphies combined with specialised rostrum. use provide near-complete reconstruction and exclude possibility that granivorous, morphometric analyses mandible (3D) cranium (2D), comparisons 3D alimentary contents extant birds. show provides for indicates have recruited stages avian radiation. As mobile dispersers, frugivorous could expanded scope biotic plants, might therefore explain, at least part, subsequent evolutionary expansion fruits, indicating potential bird-plant interactions Revolution.Birds plants close relationship developed over millions years. Birds became diverse abundant around 135 million years ago. Shortly after, started developing different kinds fruits. Today, fruit-eating help reproduce by spreading their droppings. This suggests coevolved, changing together time. But it not clear exactly how started. One species hold answers known Jeholornis. It lived China Cretaceous, 120 Palaeontologists discovered inside fossilised remains. question is, did they get there? Some eat directly, cracking them open or grinding up stomach extract nutrients inside. Other swallow when are eating fruit. If belonged second group, represent steps plant-bird coevolution. Hu et al. scanned reconstructed compared skulls, especially mandibles, modern including grind seeds, crack leaving whole. ruled out cracking. distinguish between eating. remains found fossils eaten were intact showed no grinding. ate whole fruits part year. At time alive, world entering called characterized explosion both flowering finding opens avenues scientists explore plant evolved together. Similar unlock about other interacted environments.

Language: Английский

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Decoupling the skull and skeleton in a Cretaceous bird with unique appendicular morphologies

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 20 - 31

Published: Jan. 2, 2023

Language: Английский

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Avian cranial kinesis is the result of increased encephalization during the origin of birds

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(13)

Published: March 17, 2025

The origin of birds represents a pivotal transition in vertebrate evolution, marked by significant changes both brain size and feeding biomechanics. evolution the avian skull involved dramatic modifications, such as segmented palate development powered cranial kinesis neognath birds. Powered kinesis, ability to move parts independently, is considered key innovation behind dietary diversity evolutionary success However, processes driving emergence have remained unclear until recently. By analyzing data from Mesozoic birds, including reinterpretations homology, 3D jaw muscle biomechanics, linkage analysis, researchers quantified forces their effects on mechanics during theropods As neurocranium expanded non-avian theropods, temporal muscles shifted more rostrocaudal positions aiding segmentation pterygoid. This musculoskeletal transformation increased fore-aft force neognaths, enabling kinesis. A critical change was separation epipterygoid ossification braincase, leading breakdown primitive kinematic linkages new basicranial joint, which allowed for greater flexibility. These findings shed light how neurosensory systems coevolved bird origins offer methods identifying extinct vertebrates.

Language: Английский

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