KMS Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology
Feathered dinosaurs from China and the evolution of major avian characters | |
Xu, Xing; Xu, X (reprint author), Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Vertebrate Paleontol & Paleoanthropol, Beijing 100044, Peoples R China. | |
2006-03-01 | |
发表期刊 | INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY |
ISSN | 1749-4877 |
卷号 | 1期号:1页码:4-11 |
文章类型 | Review |
摘要 | Recent discoveries of feathered dinosaurs from Early Cretaceous deposits in Liaoning, China, have not only lent strongest support for the dinosaurian hypothesis of bird origins, but have also provided much-needed information about the origins of feathers and avian flight. Preliminary analysis of character evolution suggests that the major avian osteological characters were acquired during the early evolution of maniraptoran dinosaurs. The available evidence also suggests that the first feathers with a filamentous morphology probably evolved in basal coelurosaurs and pennaceous feathers (including those with aerodynamic features) were developed in non-avian maniraptorans, indicating that feathers evolved before the origin of birds and their flight. An evolutionary model is proposed here to describe the major stages of feather evolution, a process characterized by a combination of both transformational and innovative modifications. This model is different from some recent developmental models, which suggest that feathers are evolutionary novelties without a homologous relationship to reptilian scales. Although non-avian theropods are traditionally regarded as distinctly cursorial animals, recent discoveries suggest that the closest relatives of birds might be arboreal theropods. Many bird features, such as the furcula and pennaceous feathers, evolved in a terrestrial context, whereas others, such as some pedal modifications, may have evolved in an arboreal context. Consequently, arboreality may have also contributed to the origin of avian flight.; Recent discoveries of feathered dinosaurs from Early Cretaceous deposits in Liaoning, China, have not only lent strongest support for the dinosaurian hypothesis of bird origins, but have also provided much-needed information about the origins of feathers and avian flight. Preliminary analysis of character evolution suggests that the major avian osteological characters were acquired during the early evolution of maniraptoran dinosaurs. The available evidence also suggests that the first feathers with a filamentous morphology probably evolved in basal coelurosaurs and pennaceous feathers (including those with aerodynamic features) were developed in non-avian maniraptorans, indicating that feathers evolved before the origin of birds and their flight. An evolutionary model is proposed here to describe the major stages of feather evolution, a process characterized by a combination of both transformational and innovative modifications. This model is different from some recent developmental models, which suggest that feathers are evolutionary novelties without a homologous relationship to reptilian scales. Although non-avian theropods are traditionally regarded as distinctly cursorial animals, recent discoveries suggest that the closest relatives of birds might be arboreal theropods. Many bird features, such as the furcula and pennaceous feathers, evolved in a terrestrial context, whereas others, such as some pedal modifications, may have evolved in an arboreal context. Consequently, arboreality may have also contributed to the origin of avian flight. |
关键词 | Birds Feathered Dinosaurs Feathers Flight |
WOS标题词 | Science & Technology ; Life Sciences & Biomedicine |
URL | 查看原文 |
收录类别 | SCI |
语种 | 英语 |
WOS研究方向 | Zoology |
WOS类目 | Zoology |
WOS记录号 | WOS:000208682400003 |
引用统计 | |
文献类型 | 期刊论文 |
条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.205/handle/311034/3471 |
专题 | 中科院古脊椎所(2000年以后) |
通讯作者 | Xu, X (reprint author), Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Vertebrate Paleontol & Paleoanthropol, Beijing 100044, Peoples R China. |
作者单位 | Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Vertebrate Paleontol & Paleoanthropol, Beijing 100044, Peoples R China |
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Xu, Xing,Xu, X . Feathered dinosaurs from China and the evolution of major avian characters[J]. INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY,2006,1(1):4-11. |
APA | Xu, Xing,&Xu, X .(2006).Feathered dinosaurs from China and the evolution of major avian characters.INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY,1(1),4-11. |
MLA | Xu, Xing,et al."Feathered dinosaurs from China and the evolution of major avian characters".INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY 1.1(2006):4-11. |
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