Downsized Dinosaurs: The Evolutionary Transition to Modern Birds |
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Authors: | Luis M Chiappe |
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Institution: | (1) The Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA |
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Abstract: | Living birds are the most diverse land vertebrates and the heirs of a rich chapter in the evolution of life. The origin of
modern birds from animals similar to Tyrannosaurus rex is among the most remarkable examples of an evolutionary transition. A wealth of recently discovered fossils has finally
settled the century-old controversy about the origin of birds and it has made the evolutionary saga toward modern birds one
of the best documented transitions in the history of life. This paper reviews the evidence in support of the origin of birds
from meat-eating dinosaurs, and it highlights the array of fossils that connect these fearsome animals with those that fly
all around us. |
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Keywords: | Dinosaurs Birds Origin Evolution Mesozoic |
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