Potential for Powered Flight Neared by Most Close Avialan Relatives, but Few Crossed Its Thresholds

Pei, Rui; Pittman, Michael; Goloboff, Pablo A.; Dececchi, T. Alexander; Habib, Michael B.; Kaye, Thomas G.; Larsson, Hans C. E.; Norell, Mark A.; Brusatte, Stephen L.; Xu, Xing

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.105

Cited by 84 publications

(244 citation statements)

References 112 publications

(288 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

187

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Basal troodontid characteristics are expressed in Sinovenator (Xu et al, 2002). The pelvic morphology of this troodontid is readily comparable to other basal members such as Mei (Xu & Norell, 2004;Gao et al, 2012;Pei et al, 2020). The ilium is small with an anteroposteriorly short preacetabular blade, in which a small portion of the anterior edge is broken away (Figs.…”

Section: Osteological Correlatesmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…In troodontids, variation in pelvic morphology warranted two separate reconstructions based on observed fossils. More basal, Early Cretaceous troodontids, such as Sinovenator (Xu et al, 2002), exhibit similar morphology and osteological correlates with each other (Russell & Dong, 1993;Currie & Dong, 2001;Xu et al, 2017;Pei et al, 2020), but differ substantially from those of Late Cretaceous forms (Norell et al, 2009;Tsuihiji et al, 2014;Van der Reest & Currie, 2017;Pei et al, 2017). Basal and derived troodontids were reconstructed and are herein treated separately based on these differences.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of particular interest is locomotion in theropod dinosaurs, whose fossil record documents the gradual but steady assembly of the avian body plan (Hutchinson & Allen, 2009;Brusatte et al, 2014;Xu et al, 2014). Non-avian theropods achieved global distribution and striking diversity while experimenting with locomotion at large body sizes encroaching on biomechanical limits for bipeds (Hutchinson & Garcia, 2002;Henderson & Snively, 2004;Therrien & Henderson, 2007;Hutchinson et al, 2011;Persons & Currie, 2016;Persons, Currie & Erickson, 2020;Dececchi et al, 2020), flight and wing-based locomotion (Burgers & Chiappe, 1999;Chatterjee & Templin, 2007;Alexander et al, 2010;Evangelista et al, 2014a;Evangelista et al, 2014b;Palmer, 2014;Xu et al, 2015;Heers et al, 2016;Dececchi, Larsson & Habib, 2016;Sullivan, Xu & O'Connor, 2017;Segre & Banet, 2018;Talori et al, 2018;Talori et al, 2019;Pei et al, 2020), and ventilatory structures (Carrier & Farmer, 2000;Codd et al, 2008;Macaluso & Tschopp, 2018), among other features. Without the ability to directly observe locomotion in extinct theropods, it is typically examined via osteological features, skeletal proportions, and trackway sites (Gatesy, 1991;Gatesy & Middleton, 1997;Carrano, 1998;Carrano, 2000;Paul, 1998;Gatesy et al, 1999;Day et al, 2002;Milner, Lockley & Kirkland, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Maniraptoran pelvic musculature highlights evolutionary patterns in theropod locomotion on the line to birds

Rhodes

Henderson

Currie

2021

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Locomotion is a fundamental aspect of palaeobiology and often investigated by comparing osteological structures and proportions. Previous studies document a stepwise accumulation of avian-like features in theropod dinosaurs that accelerates in the clade Maniraptora. However, the soft tissues that influenced the skeleton offer another perspective on locomotory adaptations. Examination of the pelvis for osteological correlates of hind limb and tail musculature allowed reconstruction of primary locomotory muscles across theropods and their closest extant relatives. Additionally, the areas of pelvic muscle origins were quantified to measure relative differences within and between taxa, to compare morphological features associated with cursoriality, and offer insight into the evolution of locomotor modules. Locomotory inferences based on myology often corroborate those based on osteology, although they occasionally conflict and indicate greater complexity than previously appreciated. Maniraptoran pelvic musculature underscores previous studies noting the multifaceted nature of cursoriality and suggests that a more punctuated step in caudal decoupling occurred at or near the base of Maniraptora.

show abstract

Section: Osteological Correlatesmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Maniraptoran pelvic musculature highlights evolutionary patterns in theropod locomotion on the line to birds

Rhodes

Henderson

Currie

2021

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…2019; Pei et al . 2020), then this taxon represents the most derived theropod retaining pebbly/tuberculate basement and scutate ventral scales. Pebbly basement scales are relatively common in dinosaurs (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…2019; Pei et al . 2020). Juravenator and Sciurumimus both represent juvenile individuals (Chiappe & Göhlich 2010; Rauhut et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidermal complexity in the theropod dinosaurJuravenatorfrom the Upper Jurassic of Germany

Bell

Hendrickx

2020

Palaeontology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Epidermal scales among modern reptiles are morphologically diverse and serve a variety of functions ranging from moisture balance to chemoreception. Despite being predominantly squamous‐skinned (scaly), the functional implications of this type of integument have never before been explored for a dinosaur. Re‐examination of the holotype of the theropod Juravenator starki (Kimmeridgian, Late Jurassic) reveals previously unseen diversity in its epidermal covering. In addition to the presence of short monofilaments on the dorsal and ventral parts of the tail, we identify distinctive scale patterns corresponding to discrete longitudinal bands of scutate, tuberculate and ornamented scales along the length of the tail. In modern squamous‐skinned amniotes, variation in scale architecture can be linked to functional differences between scale types. In Juravenator, distinctive circular nodes associated with the ornamented scales have recently been interpreted as integumentary sense organs. We also suggest that it is likely that the snake‐like scutate scales on the underside of the tail fulfilled a role related to mechanical protection rather than locomotory function. Whereas the literature on theropod epidermal structures has been dominated by discussions on the evolution and diversity of feathers, this study highlights the complexity of squamous integument in Juravenator, which is revealed as one of the most complex among known theropods. An exploration of the epidermal structures found in Juravenator and other non‐avian theropods reveals great complexity in the type and distribution of these structures across the clade, suggesting potential for the future inquiry into their taxonomic and biological importance.

show abstract

Osteology ofUnenlagia comahuensis(Theropoda, Paraves, Unenlagiidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia

Novas

Agnolín

Motta

et al. 2021

The Anatomical Record

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Unenlagia comahuensis was originally described as a phylogenetic link between nonavian dinosaurs and birds. Later it was interpreted by some authors as belonging to the deinonychosaurian clade Dromaeosauridae, and more recently as phylogenetically closer to birds than to dromaeosaurids. The only known specimen is represented by an incomplete skeleton, including vertebrae, incomplete scapular girdle, pelvis, and limbs, coming from Upper Cretaceous beds of Neuquén province, Patagonia, Argentina. The aim of the

show abstract

Potential for Powered Flight Neared by Most Close Avialan Relatives, but Few Crossed Its Thresholds

Cited by 84 publications

References 112 publications

Maniraptoran pelvic musculature highlights evolutionary patterns in theropod locomotion on the line to birds

Maniraptoran pelvic musculature highlights evolutionary patterns in theropod locomotion on the line to birds

Epidermal complexity in the theropod dinosaurJuravenatorfrom the Upper Jurassic of Germany

Osteology ofUnenlagia comahuensis(Theropoda, Paraves, Unenlagiidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About