what's the closest animal to a dinosaur

Introduction

The question of which animal is closest to dinosaurs has intrigued scientists for decades. Recent paleontological discoveries and advanced phylogenetic analyses have provided significant insights into the evolutionary relationships between dinosaurs and modern animals. This synthesis aims to present the most relevant findings from multiple research papers to address this question.

Key Insights

Birds as Closest Relatives to Dinosaurs:
- Many paleontologists consider dromaeosaurs, a group of theropod dinosaurs, to be the closest dinosaurian relatives of birds. This is supported by the discovery of Microraptor, a small, feathered dinosaur that shares many bird-like features.
- Maniraptora, a clade that includes birds and their closest relatives among theropod dinosaurs, shows a range of ecomorphologies that link them closely to modern birds. This includes adaptations for flight and other bird-like characteristics.

Conclusion

The closest living relatives to dinosaurs are birds, specifically those within the clade Maniraptora, which includes both modern birds and their closest theropod dinosaur relatives. Discoveries such as Microraptor and other maniraptoran fossils provide compelling evidence for this evolutionary relationship.

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What's the closest animal to a dinosaur

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Tiny, Feathered Dino Is Most Birdlike Yet

Microraptor is the smallest and most birdlike dinosaur yet discovered, belonging to the dromaeosaurs, which are considered the closest dinosaurian relatives of birds.

Tunicates and not cephalochordates are the closest living relatives of vertebrates

Tunicates, not cephalochordates, are the closest living relatives of vertebrates, redefining the origins of chordate animals and influencing the interpretation of developmental and genomic studies.

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.

A new giant carnivorous dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Patagonia

Giganotosaums carolinii is a new, primitive giant carnivorous dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia, representing a primitive evolutionary iteration of large theropods and potentially the world's largest predatory dinosaur.

A Giant European Dinosaur and a New Sauropod Clade

Turiasaurus riodevensis, a giant sauropod dinosaur from the Jurassic-Cretaceous Villar del Arzobispo Formation, is the largest terrestrial animal in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

A Gigantic, Exceptionally Complete Titanosaurian Sauropod Dinosaur from Southern Patagonia, Argentina

Dreadnoughtus schrani is the most complete titanosaur yet discovered, providing new insights into their anatomy and evolutionary history.

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.

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.

A New Giant Titanosauria (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous Bauru Group, Brazil

The new taxon Austroposeidon magnificus reveals that giant titanosaurs were present in Brazil during the Late Cretaceous, with a size estimate of around 25 meters and unique osteological features in the cervical vertebrae.

Evolution: How Not to Become an Animal

This discovery offers a new perspective on the origin of animals, offering a new perspective on the origin of choanoflagellates, the closest living relatives of animals.

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