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

Science Advances, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 7(31)

Опубликована: Июль 30, 2021

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

Язык: Английский

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Whence the birds: 200 years of dinosaurs, avian antecedents

Biology Letters, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 21(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 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.

Язык: Английский

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An Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird with a pintail

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 31(21), С. 4845 - 4852.e2

Опубликована: Сен. 16, 2021

Язык: Английский

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Cretaceous ornithurine supports a neognathous crown bird ancestor

Nature, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 612(7938), С. 100 - 105

Опубликована: Ноя. 30, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Late Cretaceous bird from Madagascar reveals unique development of beaks

Nature, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 588(7837), С. 272 - 276

Опубликована: Ноя. 25, 2020

Язык: Английский

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

Communications Biology, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 3(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 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.

Язык: Английский

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Earliest evidence for fruit consumption and potential seed dispersal by birds

eLife, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 11

Опубликована: Авг. 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.

Язык: 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, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 289(1983)

Опубликована: Сен. 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.

Язык: Английский

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

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 7(1), С. 20 - 31

Опубликована: Янв. 2, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Ultramicrostructural reductions in teeth: implications for dietary transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds

BMC Evolutionary Biology, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 20(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 21, 2020

Abstract Background Tooth morphology within theropod dinosaurs has been extensively investigated and shows high disparity throughout the Cretaceous. Changes or diversification in feeding ecology, i.e., adoption of an herbivorous diet (e.g., granivorous), is proposed as a major driver tooth evolution Paraves Microraptor , troodontids avialans). Here, we studied microscopic features paravian non-avian avialan teeth using high-spatial-resolution synchrotron transmission X-ray microscopy scanning electron microscopy. Results We show that are characterized by presence simple enamel structures lack porous mantle dentin between orthodentin. Reduced internal took place independently Early Cretaceous birds specimen, implying shifts avialans from closely related may correlate with shift ecology during transition to birds. Conclusion Different lines evidence all suggest large reduction biting force affecting dinosaur-bird transition. microstructure associated dietary have contributed early evolutionary success stemward shadow other theropods.

Язык: Английский

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