Pennaraptoran Theropod Dinosaurs Past Progress and New Frontiers

Pittman, Michael; Xu, Xing

doi:10.1206/0003-0090.440.1.1

Cited by 42 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 372 publications

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“…Moreover, although diverse diets (e.g., seeds, fish, and insects) among ancestral bird lineages have been found, there is no direct fossil evidence indicative of their preying on terrestrial vertebrates 3 , strengthening their ecological niches as low-level consumers. Ancestral birds were abundant in Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems 74 , occurring globally 94 and representing a potential food source for carnivores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular phyloecology suggests a trophic shift concurrent with the evolution of the first birds

2021

Commun Biol

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Birds are characterized by evolutionary specializations of both locomotion (e.g., flapping flight) and digestive system (toothless, crop, and gizzard), while the potential selection pressures responsible for these evolutionary specializations remain unclear. Here we used a recently developed molecular phyloecological method to reconstruct the diets of the ancestral archosaur and of the common ancestor of living birds (CALB). Our results suggest a trophic shift from carnivory to herbivory (fruit, seed, and/or nut eater) at the archosaur-to-bird transition. The evolutionary shift of the CALB to herbivory may have essentially made them become a low-level consumer and, consequently, subject to relatively high predation risk from potential predators such as gliding non-avian maniraptorans, from which birds descended. Under the relatively high predation pressure, ancestral birds with gliding capability may have then evolved not only flapping flight as a possible anti-predator strategy against gliding predatory non-avian maniraptorans but also the specialized digestive system as an evolutionary tradeoff of maximizing foraging efficiency and minimizing predation risk. Our results suggest that the powered flight and specialized digestive system of birds may have evolved as a result of their tropic shift-associated predation pressure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular phyloecology suggests a trophic shift concurrent with the evolution of the first birds

2021

Commun Biol

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“…Magnificent seven clade names: I = "core landbirds" or Telluraves [26]. II = "core waterbirds" or Aequornithes [27]; III = Phaethontimorphae [11]; IV = Otidimorphae [11]; V = Strisores [28]; VI = Columbimorphae; [11]; VII = Mirandornithes [27].…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Data Types and the Phylogeny of Neoaves

Braun

Kimball

2021

Birds

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The phylogeny of Neoaves, the largest clade of extant birds, has remained unclear despite intense study. The difficulty associated with resolving the early branches in Neoaves is likely driven by the rapid radiation of this group. However, conflicts among studies may be exacerbated by the data type analyzed. For example, analyses of coding exons typically yield trees that place Strisores (nightjars and allies) sister to the remaining Neoaves, while analyses of non-coding data typically yield trees where Mirandornites (flamingos and grebes) is the sister of the remaining Neoaves. Our understanding of data type effects is hampered by the fact that previous analyses have used different taxa, loci, and types of non-coding data. Herein, we provide strong corroboration of the data type effects hypothesis for Neoaves by comparing trees based on coding and non-coding data derived from the same taxa and gene regions. A simple analytical method known to minimize biases due to base composition (coding nucleotides as purines and pyrimidines) resulted in coding exon data with increased congruence to the non-coding topology using concatenated analyses. These results improve our understanding of the resolution of neoavian phylogeny and point to a challenge—data type effects—that is likely to be an important factor in phylogenetic analyses of birds (and many other taxonomic groups). Using our results, we provide a summary phylogeny that identifies well-corroborated relationships and highlights specific nodes where future efforts should focus.

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“…Although remaining relatively rare, the number of known dromaeosaurid species has increased exponentially in the past decade and a half (Turner et al, 2012). This has led to a concomitant increase in our knowledge of dromaeosaurid diversity, geographic extent, and the distribution of complex featherlike integumentary structures within the clade (Norell and Xu, 2005;Norell et al, 2006;Turner et al, 2007aTurner et al, , 2007bTurner et al, , 2012Lü and Brusatte, 2015;Cau et al, 2017, Pittman et al, 2020, Ding et al, 2020. Detailed anatomical descriptions have not always followed the rapid pace of discovery; and some species are known from single relatively incomplete specimens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A New Dromaeosaurid from the Late Cretaceous Khulsan Locality of Mongolia

Turner

Montanari

Norell

2021

American Museum Novitates

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A new dromaeosaurid dinosaur, Shri devi, from the Late Cretaceous deposit of the Barun Goyot Formation at Khulsan, Mongolia, is described here. The Barun Goyot Formation (herein referred to as the Barun Goyot) is stratigraphically intermediate between the overlying Nemegt Formation and the underlying Djadokhta Formation, where much of the dromaeosaurid diversity has been reported to date. Sediments of the Barun Goyot are typically considered Upper Campanian in age. Although dromaeosaurid remains have been noted to occur in the Barun Goyot for decades, descriptive and taxonomic work has never been completed for the material. The holotype specimen (IGM 100/980) consists of a partially articulated individual preserving the right hind limb; left tibiotarsus; pelvis; and adjacent cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae. IGM 100/980 is referable to a clade with Velociraptor based on the presence of a distinct ambiens tubercle located proximally on the anterior face of the pubis, a well-developed anterior tuberosity proximally located on the ischium, and a rounded longitudinal ischial ridge. It is distinguishable from V. mongoliensis based on a weak fourth trochanter (shared with all other dromaeosaurids) and deep anterior pedicular fossae in the cervical vertebrae; epipophyses in the last four cervicals are not raised but are instead represented by rugose circular scars. A suite of axial and appendicular characters are diagnostic for the new species. New discoveries including Shri devi allow for an improved understanding of dromaeosaurid anatomy, as well as the temporal and regional variation of the dromaeosaurid fauna of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol Autonomous Region, China), during the Late Cretaceous.

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Pennaraptoran Theropod Dinosaurs Past Progress and New Frontiers

Cited by 42 publications

References 372 publications

Molecular phyloecology suggests a trophic shift concurrent with the evolution of the first birds

Molecular phyloecology suggests a trophic shift concurrent with the evolution of the first birds

Data Types and the Phylogeny of Neoaves

A New Dromaeosaurid from the Late Cretaceous Khulsan Locality of Mongolia

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