Shake a tail feather: the evolution of the theropod tail into a stiff aerodynamic surface. [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2013 Theropod dinosaurs show striking morphological and functional tail variation; e.g., a long, robust, basal theropod tail used for counterbalance, or a short, modern avian tail used as an aerodynamic surface.
Michael Pittman +4 more
doaj +17 more sources
Shifts in stability and control effectiveness during evolution of Paraves support aerial maneuvering hypotheses for flight origins [PDF]
PeerJ, 2014 The capacity for aerial maneuvering was likely a major influence on the evolution of flying animals. Here we evaluate consequences of paravian morphology for aerial performance by quantifying static stability and control effectiveness of physical models ...
Dennis Evangelista +6 more
doaj +8 more sources
The phylogenetic affinities and morphological peculiarities of the bird-like dinosaur Borogovia gracilicrus from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia [PDF]
PeerJ, 2021 Borogovia gracilicrus is a small-bodied theropod dinosaur from the Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) Nemegt Formation of southern Mongolia. The taxon is based on a single fragmentary specimen preserving only the distal part of the hindlimbs.
Andrea Cau, Daniel Madzia
doaj +3 more sources
Ultramicrostructural reductions in teeth: implications for dietary transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds [PDF]
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2020 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 ...
Zhiheng Li +8 more
doaj +2 more sources
A new paravian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of North America supports a late acquisition of avian flight [PDF]
PeerJ, 2019 The last two decades have seen a remarkable increase in the known diversity of basal avialans and their paravian relatives. The lack of resolution in the relationships of these groups combined with attributing the behavior of specialized taxa to the base
Scott Hartman +5 more
doaj +3 more sources
Diuqin lechiguanae gen. et sp. nov., a new unenlagiine (Theropoda: Paraves) from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Neuquén Group, Upper Cretaceous) of Neuquén Province, Patagonia, Argentina [PDF]
BMC Ecology and EvolutionBackground Unenlagiine paravians are among the most relevant Gondwanan theropod dinosaur clades for understanding the origin of birds, yet their fossil record remains incomplete, with most taxa being represented by fragmentary material and/or separated ...
Juan D. Porfiri +5 more
doaj +2 more sources
Iridescent plumage in a juvenile dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 2023 Colour reconstructions have provided new insights into the lives of dinosaurs and other extinct animals, by predicting colouration patterns from fossilised pigment-bearing organelles called melanosomes.
ANGUS D. CROUDACE +4 more
doaj +1 more source
The phylogenetic affinities of the bizarre Late Cretaceous Romanian theropod Balaur bondoc (Dinosauria, Maniraptora): dromaeosaurid or flightless bird? [PDF]
PeerJ, 2015 The exceptionally well-preserved Romanian dinosaur Balaur bondoc is the most complete theropod known to date from the Upper Cretaceous of Europe. Previous studies of this remarkable taxon have included its phylogenetic interpretation as an aberrant ...
Andrea Cau, Tom Brougham, Darren Naish
doaj +2 more sources
Postcranial skeletal anatomy of the holotype and referred specimens of Buitreraptor gonzalezorum Makovicky, Apesteguía and Agnolín 2005 (Theropoda, Dromaeosauridae), from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia [PDF]
PeerJ, 2018 Here we provide a detailed description of the postcranial skeleton of the holotype and referred specimens of Buitreraptor gonzalezorum. This taxon was recovered as an unenlagiine dromaeosaurid in several recent phylogenetic studies and is the best ...
Federico A. Gianechini +3 more
doaj +2 more sources
The predatory ecology of Deinonychus and the origin of flapping in birds. [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2011 Most non-avian theropod dinosaurs are characterized by fearsome serrated teeth and sharp recurved claws. Interpretation of theropod predatory ecology is typically based on functional morphological analysis of these and other physical features.
Denver W Fowler +3 more
doaj +1 more source