The Link between Birds and Dinosaurs: Aves Evolved from Dinosaurs

Abstract

Aves including chickens are currently one of the most representative vertebrates on the planet. More than 10,000 bird species are distributed among various regions around the world. Dinosaurs, which evolved from archosaurs, were once assumed to have gone extinct during the Cretaceous-Paleozoic extinction period. Since the mid-1990s, abundant dinosaur fossils have been found in China and various other parts of the world. Research articles on phylogenetic, evolutionary, and genomic studies of fossil taxa show that birds are living theropod dinosaurs. This review describes the link between birds and dinosaurs based on studies of their skeletal structures, feathers, respiratory organs, chromosomes, and metabolism. Birds are the only theropod dinosaurs that survived the mass extinction 66 million years ago. Dinosaurs did not go extinct and we are still living in the age of the dinosaurs.

Reptile Evolution and Genetics - Special Issue Dedicated to the Memory of Prof. Teresa Capriglione

“…In recent years, this interest has increased due to new paleontological findings and developments in the field of genomics (e.g., [1,2]). In light of recent paleontological findings, the hypothesis that dinosaurs were completely eradicated by the most recent mass extinction event [3,4] has been pervasive in the scientific literature, as well as fiction, film, television, popular culture and the media.…”

Dinosaurs: Comparative Cytogenomics of Their Reptile Cousins and Avian Descendants

“…The question of the origin of reptiles, birds and their relationship to extinct dinosaurs has challenged many generations of biologists; it also continues to interest the lay public. In recent years, this interest has increased due to new paleontological findings and developments in the field of genomics (e.g., [1,2]). In light of recent paleontological findings, the hypothesis that dinosaurs were completely eradicated by the most recent mass extinction event [3,4] has been pervasive in the scientific literature, as well as fiction, film, television, popular culture and the media.…”

“…In light of recent paleontological findings, the hypothesis that dinosaurs were completely eradicated by the most recent mass extinction event [3,4] has been pervasive in the scientific literature, as well as fiction, film, television, popular culture and the media. However, this scientific dogma has undergone a fundamental revision in recent times; dinosaurs are now thought to be reptile survivors of the most recent extinction event through their evolution into modern birds (e.g., [1,2]). In other words, birds are both reptiles and dinosaurs.…”