What are the closest animals to dinosaurs
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Closest Animals to Dinosaurs
Dromaeosaurids: Closest Relatives to Birds
Feathered Dromaeosaurids and Bird Evolution
Dromaeosaurids, a group of theropod dinosaurs, are among the closest relatives to modern birds. These dinosaurs, often referred to as "feathered dinosaurs," provide significant insights into the evolutionary transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds. Notably, several dromaeosaurids from the Early Cretaceous period in Liaoning Province, China, exhibit features that closely resemble those of birds. For instance, the dromaeosaurid Zhenyuanlong suni, despite its large size and short arms, had large wings with pennaceous feathers on its arms and tail, similar to smaller, more bird-like dromaeosaurids1.
Microraptor: Bridging the Size Gap
Microraptor zhaoianus, another dromaeosaurid from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning, China, is particularly noteworthy for being smaller than the earliest known bird, Archaeopteryx. This discovery is crucial as it eliminates the size disparity between early birds and their closest non-avian theropod relatives. Microraptor's bird-like features, such as its teeth, ischium, and foot morphology, further highlight the close evolutionary relationship between dromaeosaurids and birds2.
Conclusion
In summary, dromaeosaurids, particularly those from the Early Cretaceous period in China, are among the closest relatives to modern birds. The feathered Zhenyuanlong suni and the small, bird-like Microraptor zhaoianus provide compelling evidence of the evolutionary link between non-avian dinosaurs and birds, showcasing the morphological and ecological transitions that occurred during this period. These findings underscore the significance of dromaeosaurids in understanding the origins of birds.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
A large, short-armed, winged dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early Cretaceous of China and its implications for feather evolution
Zhenyuanlong suni is a new genus and species of large-bodied, short-armed dromaeosaurid from the Early Cretaceous of China, providing new insights into feather evolution and dromaeosaurid phylogeny.
The smallest known non-avian theropod dinosaur
Microraptor zhaoianus is the first mature non-avian theropod dinosaur found smaller than Archaeopteryx, improving our understanding of the morphological transition to birds and their palaeoecology.
Highly CitedA tiny ornithodiran archosaur from the Triassic of Madagascar and the role of miniaturization in dinosaur and pterosaur ancestry
The early ornithodirans (Kongonaphon kely) from the Triassic of Madagascar show a miniaturization event near the common ancestor of dinosaurs and pterosaurs, potentially explaining the origins of flight in pterosaurs and fuzzy integu
Synchrotron scanning reveals amphibious ecomorphology in a new clade of bird-like dinosaurs
Halszkaraptor escuilliei, a new clade of bird-like dinosaurs, exhibits amphibious ecomorphology, convergent with short-tailed birds, and shows neck hyperelongation for food procurement.
Very Rigorous JournalHighly CitedIncreases in sampling support the southern Gondwanan hypothesis for the origin of dinosaurs
A southern Gondwanan origin for dinosaurs remains the most plausible hypothesis, supported by increased taxonomic and geographic sampling and divergent phylogenetic results.
The Anatomy of Asilisaurus kongwe, a Dinosauriform from the Lifua Member of the Manda Beds (~Middle Triassic) of Africa
This study provides the first complete anatomy of Asilisaurus kongwe, a dinosauriform from the Middle Triassic Manda Beds of Tanzania, revealing its unique skull and plesiomorphic features, suggesting high homoplasy and parallel trends within Silesauridae and early dinosaur lineages
Dinosaur Monophyly and a New Class of Vertebrates
Dinosaurs are a single monophyletic group with high aerobic exercise metabolism, justifying a new class, Dinosauria, alongside birds and cursorial mammals.
Highly CitedA microraptorine (Dinosauria–Dromaeosauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of North America
Hesperonychus elizabethae is the first microraptorine known from North America, suggesting a significant carnivore community in the Late Cretaceous Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada.
Highly CitedLarge Mesozoic mammals fed on young dinosaurs
Large Mesozoic mammals were carnivorous and fed on small vertebrates, including young dinosaurs, suggesting diverse niches and potential competition with dinosaurs for food and territory.
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