A Mesozoic bird from Gondwana preserving feathers

Carvalho, Ismar de Souza; Novas, Fernando E.; Agnolín, Federico; Isasi, Marcelo P.; Freitas, Francisco Idalécio de; Andrade, José Artur Ferreira Gomes de

doi:10.1038/ncomms8141

Cited by 53 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…As recognized early on by Darwin (1859), the fossil record is notably incomplete, and is particularly biased in the case of paravian theropods. For example, recent finds in Brazil indicate that ribbon-like feathers were geographically widespread during the Mesozoic (Carvalho et al, 2015), and the identification of ribbon-like feathers in the Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of western Asia reinforces the idea of a still unknown radiation of early feathered paravians. Furthermore, the intermingled sequence of Asiatic, North American, South American, European, and Malagasy taxa in the steps toward Avialae reinforces the current impossibility of identifying a center of origin for paravians.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Paravian Phylogeny and the Dinosaur-Bird Transition: An Overview

et al. 2019

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Recent years witnessed the discovery of a great diversity of early birds as well as closely related non-avian theropods, which modified previous conceptions about the origin of birds and their flight. We here present a review of the taxonomic composition and main anatomical characteristics of those theropod families closely related with early birds, with the aim of analyzing and discussing the main competing hypotheses pertaining to avian origins. We reject the postulated troodontid affinities of anchiornithines, and the dromaeosaurid affinities of microraptorians and unenlagiids, and instead place these groups as successive sister taxa to Avialae. Aiming to evaluate previous phylogenetic analyses, we recoded unenlagiids in the traditional TWiG data matrix, which resulted in a large polytomy at the base of Pennaraptora. This indicates that the TWiG phylogenetic scheme needs a deep revision. Regarding character evolution, we found that: (1) the presence of an ossified sternum goes hand in hand with that of ossified uncinate processes; (2) the presence of foldable forelimbs in basal archosaurs indicates widespread distribution of this trait among reptiles, contradicting previous proposals that forelimb folding driven by propatagial and associated tendons was exclusive to the avian lineage; (3) in basal paravians and avialans (e.g., Archaeopteryx, Anchiornis) the wings are relatively large and wide, with relatively short rectricial feathers, a rounded alar contour, and a convex leading margin. These taxa exhibit restricted forelimb folding capability with respect to more derived birds, their hands being preserved at angles of flexion (with respect to the radius/ulna) of no less than 90 • . In more derived birds, however, the rectrices are notably elongate and the angle between the hand and forearm is much less than 90 • , indicating not only increased forelimb folding capability but also an increased variety of wingbeat movements during flight. Because of the strong similarities in pectoral girdle configuration between ratites and basal avialans and paravians, it is possible to infer that the main forelimb movements were similar in all these taxa, lacking the complex dorsoventral wing excursion characteristic of living neognathans.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Paravian Phylogeny and the Dinosaur-Bird Transition: An Overview

et al. 2019

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“…; de Souza Carvalho et al . ). The tail plumage is generally similar to that of other bohaiornithids and Eoenantiornis in that short rectricial feathers appear dominantly plumaceous rather than pennaceous.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The elongate tail feathers preserved in nearly three‐dimensions in Cratoavis support a rigid morphology (de Souza Carvalho et al . ). In extant birds, elongate tail feathers are often used as sexual ornaments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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The plumage and colouration of an enantiornithine bird from the early cretaceous of china

Peteya

Clarke

et al. 2016

Palaeontology

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Brilliant colour displays and diverse feather morphologies that are often sexual ornaments are common throughout much of extant Avialae. Here we describe a new basal enantiornithine bird specimen recovered from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province in northeastern China. We present new information on the plumage of Bohaiornithidae as well as the first detailed colour reconstruction of an enantiornithine bird. The new specimen retains subadult skeletal characteristics, including periosteal pitting of the long bone epiphyses and unfused elements, while also preserving plumage evidence consistent with sexual maturity at the time of death. Exceptionally‐preserved feathers cover the body, including elongate crown feathers, body contour feathers, asymmetrically‐veined wing primaries, an alula and two elongate rachis‐dominated rectrices that may have been sexual ornaments. The crown, neck, and body contour feathers retain elongate melanosome morphologies associated with weakly iridescent colouration in extant feathers. We provide additional evidence of preserved melanin using Raman spectroscopy; a rapid, non‐destructive chemical technique. The new specimen provides data on skeletal ontogeny in the Bohaiornithidae as well as evidence for intraspecific communication functions of plumage.

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“…R. Soc. B 283: 20160214 present in this clade [58,59]. However, more data are needed, in particular for species younger than the Albian, to enrich our understanding of evolutionary patterns in Mesozoic birds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rates of morphological evolution are heterogeneous in Early Cretaceous birds

Wang

Lloyd

2016

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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The Early Cretaceous is a critical interval in the early history of birds. Exceptional fossils indicate that important evolutionary novelties such as a pygostyle and a keeled sternum had already arisen in Early Cretaceous taxa, bridging much of the morphological gap between Archaeopteryx and crown birds. However, detailed features of basal bird evolution remain obscure because of both the small sample of fossil taxa previously considered and a lack of quantitative studies assessing rates of morphological evolution. Here we apply a recently available phylogenetic method and associated sensitivity tests to a large data matrix of morphological characters to quantify rates of morphological evolution in Early Cretaceous birds. Our results reveal that although rates were highly heterogeneous between different Early Cretaceous avian lineages, consistent patterns of significantly high or low rates were harder to pinpoint. Nevertheless, evidence for accelerated evolutionary rates is strongest at the point when Ornithuromorpha (the clade comprises all extant birds and descendants from their most recent common ancestors) split from Enantiornithes (a diverse clade that went extinct at the end-Cretaceous), consistent with the hypothesis that this key split opened up new niches and ultimately led to greater diversity for these two dominant clades of Mesozoic birds.

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A Mesozoic bird from Gondwana preserving feathers

Cited by 53 publications

References 33 publications

Paravian Phylogeny and the Dinosaur-Bird Transition: An Overview

Paravian Phylogeny and the Dinosaur-Bird Transition: An Overview

The plumage and colouration of an enantiornithine bird from the early cretaceous of china

Rates of morphological evolution are heterogeneous in Early Cretaceous birds

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