What is the closest species to dinosaurs
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Closest Species to Dinosaurs: Insights from Recent Research
Dromaeosaurids and Their Relation to Birds
Dromaeosaurids, a group of theropod dinosaurs, are among the closest relatives to modern birds. These "feathered dinosaurs" from the Early Cretaceous period, particularly those found in Liaoning Province, China, exhibit significant similarities to birds. For instance, the newly described species Zhenyuanlong suni, a large-bodied, short-armed dromaeosaurid, had large wings with pennaceous feathers on its arms and tail, akin to those of smaller, long-armed dromaeosaurids. This evidence underscores the close evolutionary relationship between dromaeosaurids and birds, highlighting the morphological and integumentary features that bridge the gap between non-avian dinosaurs and avian species.
Phylogenetic Analyses and Dinosaur Family Tree
The classification of dinosaurs has been a subject of extensive debate, particularly regarding the phylogenetic relationships among major dinosaur groups. Traditional classifications split dinosaurs into "lizard-hipped" saurischians and "bird-hipped" ornithischians. However, recent phylogenetic analyses, such as those by Baron et al., have proposed a new grouping called Ornithoscelida, which unites theropods and ornithischians to the exclusion of sauropodomorphs. Despite these new hypotheses, there remains significant uncertainty and debate about the basic structure of the dinosaur family tree. The traditional view, which places theropods (including dromaeosaurids) as close relatives of birds, still holds considerable support.
Silesaurids: Non-Dinosaurian Dinosauriforms
Silesaurids, a group of non-dinosaurian dinosauriforms, are considered the closest relatives to crown-group dinosaurs. The osteohistology of Sacisaurus agudoensis, a Late Triassic silesaurid from Brazil, reveals rapid growth patterns similar to early dinosaurs, though with simpler vascular arrangements compared to saurischian dinosaurs. This suggests that while silesaurids share some growth characteristics with early dinosaurs, they exhibit distinct differences that set them apart from true dinosaurs. Nonetheless, their close relationship to dinosaurs provides valuable insights into the early evolutionary stages leading to the rise of dinosaurs.
Conclusion
In summary, the closest species to dinosaurs are the dromaeosaurids, which share numerous morphological and integumentary features with modern birds, underscoring their close evolutionary relationship. Phylogenetic analyses continue to refine our understanding of dinosaur relationships, with ongoing debates about the exact structure of the dinosaur family tree. Additionally, silesaurids, as the closest non-dinosaurian relatives, offer crucial information about the early evolutionary traits that preceded the emergence of true dinosaurs. Together, these findings paint a comprehensive picture of the intricate evolutionary pathways that link modern birds to their dinosaurian ancestors.
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