Evolution of the Avian Brain and Senses

Walsh, Stig; Milner, Angela C.

doi:10.1002/9781119990475.ch11

Cited by 33 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 142 publications

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“…Although this specimen can potentially provide crucial data about avian brain evolution during the Late Cretaceous, we have already noted (Walsh & Milner, ) that the tomographic data published by Kurochkin et al. () show this specimen to be an incomplete and abraded skull rather than a preserved brain or even an endocast.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…D) the telencephalon is broader than long, lacks a defined interhemispheric fissure rostrally, and displays only a shallow interhemispheric sulcus within its caudal‐most half. The broadest part of the telencephalon occurs within that caudal region, resulting in a cordiform outline in dorsal view, much as in the majority of living birds (Walsh & Milner, ). At this point the rostral‐facing surface of the lateral margin of the telencephalon is slightly expanded rostrally, forming a slight notch in lateral view (Fig.…”

Section: Revised Description Of the Cranial Osteology Of Cerebavis Cementioning

confidence: 99%

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A reappraisal of Cerebavis cenomanica (Aves, Ornithurae), from Melovatka, Russia

2015

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The evolution of the avian brain is of crucial importance to studies of the transition from non-avian dinosaurs to modern birds, but very few avian fossils provide information on brain morphological development during the Mesozoic. An isolated specimen from the Cenomanian of Melovatka in Russia was described by Kurochkin and others as a fossilized brain, designated the holotype of Cerebavis cenomanica Kurochkin and Saveliev and tentatively referred to Enantiornithes. We have previously highlighted that this specimen is an incomplete skull, rendering the diagnostic characters invalid and Cerebavis cenomanica a nomen dubium. We provide here a revised diagnosis of Cerebavis cenomanica based on osteological characters, and a reconstruction of the endocranial morphology (= brain shape) based on μCT investigation of the braincase. Absence of temporal fenestrae indicates an ornithurine affinity for Cerebavis. The brain of this taxon was clearly closer to that of modern birds than to Archaeopteryx and does not represent a divergent evolutionary pathway as originally concluded by Kurochkin and others. No telencephalic wulst is present, suggesting that this advanced avian neurological feature was not recognizably developed 93 million years ago.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Revised Description Of the Cranial Osteology Of Cerebavis Cementioning

confidence: 99%

A reappraisal of Cerebavis cenomanica (Aves, Ornithurae), from Melovatka, Russia

2015

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“…This means that Microraptor could fly even farther, if it had possessed an advanced flight-control system to maintain stable flight. However, it is unlikely that early flyers would have specialized and dedicated flight-control systems 24,25 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aerodynamic performance of the feathered dinosaur Microraptor and the evolution of feathered flight

et al. 2013

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Understanding the aerodynamic performance of feathered, non-avialan dinosaurs is critical to reconstructing the evolution of bird flight. Here we show that the Early Cretaceous five-winged paravian Microraptor is most stable when gliding at high-lift coefficients (low lift/ drag ratios). Wind tunnel experiments and flight simulations show that sustaining a high-lift coefficient at the expense of high drag would have been the most efficient strategy for Microraptor when gliding from, and between, low elevations. Analyses also demonstrate that anatomically plausible changes in wing configuration and leg position would have made little difference to aerodynamic performance. Significant to the evolution of flight, we show that Microraptor did not require a sophisticated, 'modern' wing morphology to undertake effective glides. This is congruent with the fossil record and also with the hypothesis that symmetric 'flight' feathers first evolved in dinosaurs for non-aerodynamic functions, later being adapted to form lifting surfaces.

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“…arboreal, aerial and even aquatic and terrestrial) result from adaptive pressures to produce lighter, faster or more manoeuvrable animals 1, 6, 8, 10, 11, 35 due to shared selective pressures to develop sharply coordinated movements 1, 4, 6, 11, 12, 30, 32, 33, 35–39 . However, the reliability of FF dimensions as a means of providing insight into the behaviour of extinct amniotes has never been adequately tested 18 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floccular fossa size is not a reliable proxy of ecology and behaviour in vertebrates

Ferreira-Cardoso

Araújo

Martins

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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The cerebellar floccular and parafloccular lobes are housed in fossae of the periotic region of the skull of different vertebrates. Experimental evidence indicates that the lobes integrate visual and vestibular information and control the vestibulo-ocular reflex, vestibulo-collic reflex, smooth pursuit and gaze holding. Multiple paleoneuroanatomy studies have deduced the behaviour of fossil vertebrates by measuring the floccular fossae (FF). These studies assumed that there are correlations between FF volume and behaviour. However, these assumptions have not been fully tested. Here, we used micro-CT scans of extant mammals (47 species) and birds (59 species) to test six possible morphological-functional associations between FF volume and ecological/behavioural traits of extant animals. Behaviour and ecology do not explain FF volume variability in four out of six variables tested. Two variables with significant results require further empirical testing. Cerebellum plasticity may explain the lack of statistical evidence for the hypotheses tested. Therefore, variation in FF volume seems to be better explained by a combination of factors such as anatomical and phylogenetic evolutionary constraints, and further empirical testing is required.

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Evolution of the Avian Brain and Senses

Cited by 33 publications

References 142 publications

A reappraisal of Cerebavis cenomanica (Aves, Ornithurae), from Melovatka, Russia

A reappraisal of Cerebavis cenomanica (Aves, Ornithurae), from Melovatka, Russia

Aerodynamic performance of the feathered dinosaur Microraptor and the evolution of feathered flight

Floccular fossa size is not a reliable proxy of ecology and behaviour in vertebrates

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