Closest relatives to dinosaurs
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Introduction
The evolutionary lineage of dinosaurs is a subject of significant interest, particularly in identifying their closest living relatives. This topic has been explored through various phylogenetic studies and fossil analyses.
Key Insights
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Tunicates as Closest Living Relatives to Vertebrates: Phylogenomic data from genome sequencing suggests that tunicates, rather than cephalochordates, are the closest living relatives of vertebrates, challenging traditional views based on morphological similarities.
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Dromaeosaurs as Close Relatives of Birds: Paleontological evidence from the fossil record, such as the discovery of the feathered Microraptor, indicates that dromaeosaurs, a group of theropod dinosaurs, are among the closest dinosaurian relatives to birds.
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Lagerpetids and Silesaurids in Dinosaur Evolution: Fossil evidence from the Triassic period shows the coexistence of dinosaurs with lagerpetids and silesaurids, suggesting these groups were closely related to dinosaurs and important for understanding early dinosaur diversification and biogeography.
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Maniraptorans and Novel Ecomorphologies: Synchrotron scanning of a maniraptoran fossil reveals a new clade of bird-like dinosaurs with amphibious ecomorphology, indicating that maniraptorans, which include birds and their closest theropod relatives, evolved diverse ecological adaptations.
Conclusion
The closest living relatives to dinosaurs are not a single group but rather a collection of lineages that share a common ancestry with them. Tunicates have been identified as the closest living relatives to vertebrates, while within the dinosaur clade, dromaeosaurs are closely related to birds. Additionally, lagerpetids and silesaurids are recognized as important relatives in the context of dinosaur evolution. Maniraptorans, particularly those with bird-like characteristics, represent a diverse clade that developed various ecological adaptations, including those suited for an amphibious lifestyle.
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