Avian Ancestors : A Review of the Phylogenetic Relationships of the Theropods Unenlagiidae, Microraptoria, Anchiornis and Scansoriopterygidae

By (author) Novas, Fernando E.; By (author) Agnolin, Federico L.

Although consensus exists among researchers that birds evolved from coelurosaurian theropods, paleontologists still debate the identification of the group of coelurosaurians that most closely approaches the common ancestor of birds. The last 20 years witnessed the discovery of a wide array of avian-like theropods that has considerably amplified the anatomical disparity among deinonychosaurians, some of which resemble Archaeopteryx more than Deinonychus. Among these newly discovered theropods that show remarkable bird-like characteristics are the four-winged theropods Microraptor and Anchiornis, and the unenlagiids Unenlagia, Buitreraptor, and Rahonavis. A bizarre group of minute-sized coelurosaurs, the Scansoriopterygidae, also exhibits some avian similarities that lead some authors to interpret them as more closely related to birds than other dinosaurs. With the aim to explore the phylogenetic relationships of these coelurosaurians and birds, we merged recently published integrative databases, resulting in significant changes in the topological distribution of taxa within Paraves. We present evidence that Dromaeosauridae, Microraptoria, Unenlagiidae, and Anchiornis + Xiaotingia form successive sister taxa of Aves, and that the Scansoriopterygidae are basal coelurosaurians not closely related to birds. The implications in the evolutionary sequence of anatomical characters leading to birds, including the origin of flight, are also considered in light of this new phylogenetic hypothesis.

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[目次]

  • Introduction.- Institutional abbreviations.- Comparison: general information about the main taxa to be compared in the present paper.- Phylogenetic analysis: review of available phylogenetic hypotheses about the origin of birds, discussing their respective logical bases and discussion of characters used for their support.- Systematic Paleontology: systematic arrangement.- Discussion.- Evolution of feathers and wings among basal paravians.- Osteological and integumental modifications related to the origin of flight.- Body size increase and loss of flying capabilities among paravians.- Independent origin of flying capabilities among paravians.- Averaptoran radiation and center of origin of birds.- Bibliography.- Character list.

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この本の情報

書名 Avian Ancestors : A Review of the Phylogenetic Relationships of the Theropods Unenlagiidae, Microraptoria, Anchiornis and Scansoriopterygidae
著作者等 Agnolin, Federico L.
Novas, Fernando E.
書名別名 A Review of the Phylogenetic Relationships of the Theropods Unenlagiidae, Microraptoria, Anchiornis and Scansoriopterygidae
シリーズ名 Springerbriefs in Earth System Sciences
出版元 Springer
刊行年月 2013.02.27
ページ数 105p
大きさ H235 x W155
ISBN 9789400756366
言語 英語
出版国 オランダ
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