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These studies suggest that birds are the closest living relatives of dinosaurs.
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The question of which living species are the closest relatives to dinosaurs, particularly birds, has been a subject of extensive research. This synthesis aims to consolidate findings from multiple studies to provide a clear understanding of the closest living relatives of dinosaurs.
Birds as Closest Relatives of Dinosaurs:
Phylogenetic Relationships of Tetrapods:
The closest living relatives of dinosaurs are birds, specifically supported by the discovery of feathered dinosaurs like Microraptor. This aligns with the broader consensus in paleontology that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, particularly dromaeosaurs. Other ancient species like lungfish and coelacanths, while closely related to tetrapods, do not share as direct a lineage with dinosaurs as birds do.
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