Four-winged dinosaurs from China

Xu, Xing; Zhou, Zhonghe; Wang, Xiaolin; Kuang, Xuewen; Zhang, Fucheng; Xiang-ke, DU

doi:10.1038/nature01342

Cited by 409 publications

(518 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…2) and are symmetrical on the forelimbs. Long, densely packed and symmetrical pennaceous feathers are present along the posterior part of the thigh and crus, consistent in distribution with the tetrapterygian condition of several other basal paravian taxa 2,16 . However, careful preparation shows that feathers were absent from the metatarsus and pes of YFGP-T5197.…”

Section: Nature Communications | Doisupporting

confidence: 65%

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Reduced plumage and flight ability of a new Jurassic paravian theropod from China

et al. 2013

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Section: Nature Communications | Doisupporting

confidence: 65%

“…4). In this phylogeny, the presence of long feathers on the metatarsus and pes, observed in Anchiornis 2 , Xiaotingia 3 and Microraptor 16 , is regarded as an unambiguous synapomorphy for the clade Troodontidae þ Dromaeosauridae, and their secondary loss an unambiguous autapomorphy for Eosinopteryx (Fig. 4).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced plumage and flight ability of a new Jurassic paravian theropod from China

et al. 2013

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“…The most interesting discovery to date among the feathered dinosaurs was the four-winged dinosaur recently reported by Xu et al (2003), Microraptor gui of Dromaeosauridae (Fig. 1e).…”

Section: Feathered Dinosaurs?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation to the sky: Defining the feather with integument fossils from mesozoic China and experimental evidence from molecular laboratories

Chuong

Zhang

et al. 2003

J Exp Zool Pt B

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In this special issue of Evo-Devo of the amniote integument, Alibardi has discussed the adaptation of the integument to the land. Here we will discuss the adaptation to the sky. We first review a series of fossil discoveries representing intermediate forms of feathers or feather-like appendages from dinosaurs and Mesozoic birds from the Jehol Biota of China. We then discuss results from the molecular and developmental biological experiments using chicken integument as the model. Feather forms can be modulated using retrovirus mediated gene mis-expression that mimics those found in nature today and in the evolutionary past. The molecular conversions among different types of integument appendages (feather, scale, tooth) are discussed. From these evidences, we recognize that not all organisms with feathers are birds, and that not all skin appendages with hierarchical branches are feathers. We develop a set of criteria for true avian feathers: 1) possessing actively proliferating cells in the proximal follicle for a proximo -distal growth mode; 2) forming hierarchical branches of rachis, barbs and barbules, with barbs shaped by differential cell death into either bilaterally or radially symmetric structures; 3) having a follicle structure, with a mesenchyme core during development; 4) maturing into a structure consisting of epithelia without a mesenchyme core with two sides of the vane facing the previous basal and supra-basal layer, respectively; and 5) having stem cells and dermal papilla in the follicle and hence the ability to molt and regenerate. A model of feather evolution from feather bud → barbs → barbules → rachis is presented, which is opposite to the old view of scale plate → rachis → barbs → barbules.

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“…4). The extent to which feathers covered the body of these non-avian dinosaurs is not well known for some taxa (for example, the tyrannosauroid Dilong 21 , the therizinosauroid Beipiaosaurus 22 , and the alvarezsaurid Shuvuuia 6,23 ) but complete specimens of Sinosauropteryx 12,16 , the oviraptorosaur Caudipteryx 23 , and several dromaeosaurids [24][25][26] indicate that the body of these animals was for the most part feathered. The fact that Juravenator lacks any evidence of feathers in portions of integument otherwise feathered in these coelurosaurs indicates that these animals may have differed greatly in the extension of their feathery covering.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%