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The Evolutionary History of How Modern Day Birds Came To Be

This document traces the evolutionary history from theropod dinosaurs to modern birds. Key developments include: 1) Some theropods had primitive feathers similar to modern bird feathers, supporting the idea they could glide or sustain flight. 2) Archaeopteryx exhibited traits partway between theropods and birds, such as teeth and a tail for stabilization but also feathers and a reversed toe. 3) Later birds evolved wings from fused fingers, advanced flight feathers, lost teeth and tails, and gained tail feathers, allowing for sustained flight.

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Cindy Graville
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41 views1 page

The Evolutionary History of How Modern Day Birds Came To Be

This document traces the evolutionary history from theropod dinosaurs to modern birds. Key developments include: 1) Some theropods had primitive feathers similar to modern bird feathers, supporting the idea they could glide or sustain flight. 2) Archaeopteryx exhibited traits partway between theropods and birds, such as teeth and a tail for stabilization but also feathers and a reversed toe. 3) Later birds evolved wings from fused fingers, advanced flight feathers, lost teeth and tails, and gained tail feathers, allowing for sustained flight.

Uploaded by

Cindy Graville
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Evolutionary history of how modern day birds came to be

Dinosaurs to Birds

Theropods are innatly diferent from birds, but there are major similarities that we can use to see the link... But first, what makes a theropod a theropod?

Teeth! Most theropods had a highly specialized set of teeth specific to their diet

It is debated what purpose the theropods tail served. Some theories involve stability when running and such.

Some theropods bristles that are what we might consider prototype feathers

Although there are differences between birds and Theropod dinosaurs, the similarities are also there.

Tails probably fell out of fashion later in the evolutionary timeline due too a larger reliance on flight

This is a modern day bird feather

The Archaeopteryx had a tail that was probably used to stabilize flight or glides Archaeopteryx had feathers similar to modern day birds. This supports the idea that they could sustaine flight.

Had a slender muzzle with teeth, not so disimilar to a beak

Archaeopteryx had the startings of something very similar to the modern day birds reversed perching toe, although not quite yet fully realized as such.

The present state of birds today is all thanks to the evolutionary path early theropods were sent down.

With the increased use of gliding or actual flight the animals fingers mostly melded together to create a solid wing structure. Flight feathers also evolved to where they are now, allowing for sustained flight

Birds have evolved out of the need for teeth. Most likely because of a change to a mainly omnivourus diet

Tails disapeared all together. Only to be replaced by tail feathers, which assist the birds sustained flight.

Reversed perching toe allowed the animal to perch on places steadly

Sources
Understanding Evolution. 2013. University of California Museum of Paleontology. Shake a Tail Feather: The Evolution of the Theropod Tail into a Stiff Aerodynamic Surface. March 15, 2013 By Michael Pittman, Stephen M. Gatesy, Paul Upchurch, Anjali Goswami, John R. Hutchinson

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