Late Cretaceous neornithine from Europe illuminates the origins of crown birds

Nature, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 579(7799), P. 397 - 401

Published: March 18, 2020

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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Forty new specimens of Ichthyornis provide unprecedented insight into the postcranial morphology of crownward stem group birds

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10, P. e13919 - e13919

Published: Dec. 16, 2022

Ichthyornis has long been recognized as a pivotally important fossil taxon for understanding the latest stages of dinosaur–bird transition, but little significant new postcranial material brought to light since initial descriptions partial skeletons in 19 th Century. Here, we present information on morphology from 40 previously undescribed specimens, providing most complete morphological assessment skeleton date. The includes four partially and numerous well-preserved isolated elements, enabling anatomical observations such muscle attachments Mesozoic euornitheans. Among elements that were unknown or poorly represented , specimens include an almost-complete axial series, hypocleideum-bearing furcula, radial carpal bones, fibulae, tarsometatarsus bearing rudimentary hypotarsus, one first-known nearly three-dimensional sterna avialan. Several pedal phalanges are preserved, revealing remarkably enlarged pes presumably related foot-propelled swimming. Although diagnosable exhibit substantial degree variation, some which may relate ontogenetic changes. Phylogenetic analyses incorporating our data employing alternative datasets recover stemward Hesperornithes Iaceornis line with recent hypotheses regarding topology crownward-most portion avian stem group, establish phylogenetically-defined clade names relevant avialan subclades help facilitate consistent discourse future work. provided by these improves evolution among non-neornithine avialans immediately preceding origin crown group birds.

Language: Английский

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Diet of Mesozoic toothed birds (Longipterygidae) inferred from quantitative analysis of extant avian diet proxies

BMC Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 20(1)

Published: May 12, 2022

Birds are key indicator species in extant ecosystems, and thus we would expect extinct birds to provide insights into the nature of ancient ecosystems. However, many aspects bird ecology, particularly their diet, remain obscure. One group particular interest is bizarre toothed long-snouted longipterygid birds. Longipterygidae most well-understood family enantiornithine birds, dominant Cretaceous period. as with Mesozoic diet remains entirely speculative.

Language: Английский

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Integrated phylogenomic and fossil evidence of stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea) reveal a Permian–Triassic co-origination with insectivores

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 7(11), P. 201689 - 201689

Published: Nov. 1, 2020

Stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea) are a distinctive insect order whose members characterized by mimicking various plant tissues such as twigs, foliage bark. Unfortunately, the phylogenetic relationships among phasmatodean subfamilies timescale of their evolution remain uncertain. Recent molecular clock analyses have suggested Cretaceous–Palaeogene origin crown Phasmatodea subsequent Cenozoic radiation, contrasting with fossil evidence. Here, we analysed transcriptomic data from broad diversity phasmatodeans and, combined assembly new suite calibrations, elucidate evolutionary history stick insects. Our results differ recent studies in position (Phylliinae), which recovered sister to clade comprising Clitumninae, Lancerocercata, Lonchodinae, Necrosciinae Xenophasmina . We recover Permian Triassic coinciding radiation early insectivorous parareptiles, amphibians synapsids. Aschiphasmatinae Neophasmatodea diverged Jurassic–Early Cretaceous. A second spur origination occurred Late Cretaceous, Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution, was probably driven visual predators stem birds (Enantiornithes) angiosperms.

Language: Английский

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Intra-gastric phytoliths provide evidence for folivory in basal avialans of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: July 28, 2023

Abstract Angiosperms became the dominant plant group in early to middle Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems, coincident with timing of earliest pulse bird diversification. While living birds and angiosperms exhibit strong interactions across pollination/nectivory, seed dispersal/frugivory, folivory, documentation evolutionary origins construction that ecological complexity remains scarce Mesozoic. Through first study preserved situ dietary derived phytoliths a nearly complete skeleton diverging avialan clade Jeholornithidae, we provide direct evidence Jeholornis consumed leaves likely from magnoliid angiosperm clade, these results lend further support for connections among angiosperms. The broad diet including at least fruits marks clear transition evolution establishment an arboreal (angiosperm) herbivore niche Early occupied largely by today. Morphometric reanalysis lower jaw supports generalized morphology shared other herbivorous birds, extant avian folivore, hoatzin.

Language: Английский

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The diet of early birds based on modern and fossil evidence and a new framework for its reconstruction

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 96(5), P. 2058 - 2112

Published: July 8, 2021

Birds are some of the most diverse organisms on Earth, with species inhabiting a wide variety niches across every major biome. As such, birds vital to our understanding modern ecosystems. Unfortunately, evolutionary history ecosystems is hampered by knowledge gaps in origin bird diversity and ecosystem ecology. A crucial part addressing these shortcomings improving earliest birds, non-avian avialans (i.e. non-crown birds), particularly their diet. The diet has been matter debate, large because ambiguous qualitative approaches that have used reconstruct it. Here we review methods for determining fossil avians crown birds) as well theropods, comment usefulness when applied avialans. We use this propose set comparable, quantitative ascertain basis provide consensus what currently know about While no single approach can precisely predict each exclude diets narrow dietary possibilities. recommend combining (i) dental microwear, (ii) landmark-based muscular reconstruction, (iii) stable isotope geochemistry, (iv) body mass estimations, (v) traditional and/or geometric morphometric analysis, (vi) lever modelling, (vii) finite element analysis accurately. Our provides specific methodologies implement discusses complications future researchers should keep mind. note current forms assessment mesowear, skull morphometrics, certain systems yet be proven effective at discerning On report state avialan which remains very incomplete. ancestral condition unclear due scarce data contradictory evidence Archaeopteryx. Among early pygostylians, Confuciusornis mechanical advantage pointing herbivory, whilst Sapeornis only indicating granivory, agreeing fossilised ingested material known taxon. enantiornithine ornithothoracine Shenqiornis pedal carnivory. In hongshanornithid ornithuromorph Hongshanornis indicates but agrees gastrolith ingestion Mechanical fish support carnivory songlingornithid Yanornis. Due sparsity robust assignments, clear trends evolution emerged. Dietary seems increase through time, preservational bias associated predominance from Early Cretaceous Jehol Lagerstätte. With new framework synthesis diet, expect become much clearer coming years, especially fossils other locations climates found. This will allow deeper more role played Mesozoic how developed into pivotal

Language: Английский

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Cretophengodidae, a new Cretaceous beetle family, sheds light on the evolution of bioluminescence

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 288(1943), P. 20202730 - 20202730

Published: Jan. 20, 2021

Bioluminescent beetles of the superfamily Elateroidea (fireflies, fire beetles, glow-worms) are most speciose group terrestrial light-producing animals. The evolution bioluminescence in elateroids is associated with unusual morphological modifications, such as soft-bodiedness and neoteny, but fragmentary nature fossil record discloses little about origin these adaptations. We report discovery a new bioluminescent elateroid beetle family from mid-Cretaceous northern Myanmar ( ca 99 Ma), Cretophengodidae fam. nov. Cretophengodes azari gen. et sp. belongs to lampyroid clade, would appear represent transitional linking soft-bodied Phengodidae + Rhagophthalmidae clade hard-bodied elateroids. male possesses light organ on abdomen which presumably served defensive function, documenting Cretaceous radiation coinciding diversification major insectivore groups frogs stem-group birds. adds key branch tree life sheds historical biogeography beetles.

Language: Английский

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Exceptionally preserved stomach contents of a young tyrannosaurid reveal an ontogenetic dietary shift in an iconic extinct predator

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(49)

Published: Dec. 8, 2023

Tyrannosaurids were large carnivorous dinosaurs that underwent major changes in skull robusticity and body proportions as they grew, suggesting occupied different ecological niches during their life span. Although adults commonly fed on dinosaurian megaherbivores, the diet of juvenile tyrannosaurids is largely unknown. Here, we describe a remarkable specimen Gorgosaurus libratus preserves articulated hindlimbs two yearling caenagnathid inside its abdominal cavity. The prey selectively dismembered consumed separate feeding events. This predator-prey association provides direct evidence an ontogenetic dietary shift tyrannosaurids. Juvenile individuals may have hunted small young until reached size when, to satisfy energy requirements, transitioned megaherbivores. both mesopredator apex predator roles span, factor been key evolutionary success.

Language: Английский

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New toothed Early Cretaceous ornithuromorph bird reveals intraclade diversity in pattern of tooth loss

Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 18(8), P. 631 - 645

Published: Nov. 11, 2019

The earliest record of the Ornithuromorpha, which includes crown birds, is currently known from Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota in north-eastern China. Here we describe a new ornithuromorph bird, Mengciusornis dentatus gen. et sp. nov., Jiufotang Formation this biota. preserves suite morphological features exclusively observed among ornithuromorphs sympatric taxon Schizooura, including robust and 'V'-shaped furcula with short hypocleidium, humerus large, rectangular deltopectoral crest distodorsal corner distinctively developed into sharp, angular point. results our phylogenetic analysis recover these two species together clade, positioned stemward within Ornithuromorpha. has toothed premaxillae, stark contrast edentulous jaws demonstrating that dentition varied considerably between some closely related species. Furthermore, all previously premaxillae have an rostral portion element, suggesting tooth loss clade proceeded end caudally, whereas premaxilla lacks tip although maxilla dentary are toothless, indicating pattern loss, not unexpectedly, lineages ornithuromorphs. This observation suggests strong degree plasticity developmental mechanisms regulating beak formation, supported by earlier evidence indicates teeth been lost multiple times Aves Dinosauria. ventrally hooked scapular acromion convergently evolved parallel enantiornithines neornithines, providing further homoplasy characterizes avian evolution.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:311B34B9-1CBF-47A6-B821-650C04560137

Language: Английский

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