Origin of feathered flight |
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Authors: | E N Kurochkin I A Bogdanovich |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, 100044 Beijing, China |
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Abstract: | The origin of flight in birds and theropod dinosaurs is a many-sided and debatable problem. We develop a new approach to the
resolution of this problem, combining terrestrial and arboreal hypotheses of the origin of flight. The bipedalism was a key
adaptation for the development of flight in both birds and theropods. The bipedalism dismissed the forelimbs from the supporting
function and promoted transformation into wings. For the development of true flapping avian flight, a key role was played
by the initial universal anisodactylous foot of birds. This foot pattern provided a firm support on both land and trees. Theropod
dinosaurs, archaeopteryxes, and some other early feathered creatures had a pamprodactylous foot and, hence, they developed
only gliding descent. Early birds descended by flattering parachuting with the use of incipient wings; this gave rise to true
flight. Among terrestrial vertebrates, only bats, pterosaurians, and birds developed true flapping flight, although they followed
different morphofunctional pathways when solving this task. However, it remains uncertain what initiated the adaptation of
the three groups for the air locomotion. Nevertheless, the past decade has provided unexpectedly abundant paleontological
data, which facilitate the resolution of this question with reference to birds. |
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