What's the closest living animal to a dinosaur

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Summary

3 papers analyzed

These studies suggest birds are the closest living animals to dinosaurs.

Research summarized with Copilot

18 papers analyzed

Introduction

The question of which living animal is closest to dinosaurs has intrigued scientists for decades. This inquiry delves into the evolutionary lineage and phylogenetic relationships between modern animals and their ancient dinosaur ancestors.

Key Insights

Birds as Closest Relatives to Dinosaurs:
- The fossil of Microraptor, a small, feathered dinosaur, is described as the most birdlike dinosaur yet discovered. This supports the view that birds are the closest living relatives of dinosaurs, specifically dromaeosaurs.

Conclusion

The closest living animals to dinosaurs are birds. This conclusion is supported by fossil evidence, particularly the discovery of feathered dinosaurs like Microraptor, which share significant similarities with modern birds.

Sources and full results

Most relevant research papers on this topic

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.

1,481 Citations

2006

DOI

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.

1 Citations

2000

DOI

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.

120 Citations

2014

DOI

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.

510 Citations

2000

DOI

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.

56 Citations

2015

DOI

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.

38 Citations

2016

DOI

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.

138 Citations

1974

DOI

Gene family innovation, conservation and loss on the animal stem lineage

The study identified 1944 gene families that originated on the animal stem lineage, with 39 conserved across all animals, and found that 372 previously thought to be animal-specific genes evolved before the animal-choanoflagellate divergence.

143 Citations

2018

DOI

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.

3 Citations

2019

DOI

Bone histology indicates insular dwarfism in a new Late Jurassic sauropod dinosaur

Europasaurus holgeri is a new Late Jurassic dwarf sauropod species, likely evolved through a decrease in growth rate from its larger ancestor.

208 Citations

2006

DOI

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