Shrinking dinosaurs evolved into birds
WENN.com
First posted: Monday, August 04, 2014 02:19 PM EDT | Updated: Monday, August 04, 2014 02:28 PM EDT
Scientists have revealed that dinosaurs evolved into birds by constantly shrinking for over 50 million years.
Theropods started at 163kg (359lb) before shrinking 12 times to 0.8kg (1.8lb) and finally becoming modern birds.
They were the only dinosaurs to get continuously smaller, and their skeletons changed four times faster than other dinosaurs, which helped them to survive.
The results from the study are reported in the journal Science.
Mike Lee, from the University of Adelaide, led the team, and says, "Birds evolved through a unique phase of sustained miniaturization in dinosaurs. Being smaller and lighter in the land of giants, with rapidly evolving anatomical adaptations, provided these bird ancestors with new ecological opportunities, such as the ability to climb trees, glide and fly."
The fossil bones of a Limusaurus, probably a herbivorous theropod, were found in a Chinese dinosaur "death pit" in 2001. Between 2001 and 2005, a team explored pits in a remote area of northwest China where the remains of at least two types of previously unknown dinosaurs called theropods were found. (Photo courtesy Royal Tyrrell Museum)
Shrinking dinosaurs evolved into birds | World | News | Toronto Sun
WENN.com
First posted: Monday, August 04, 2014 02:19 PM EDT | Updated: Monday, August 04, 2014 02:28 PM EDT
Scientists have revealed that dinosaurs evolved into birds by constantly shrinking for over 50 million years.
Theropods started at 163kg (359lb) before shrinking 12 times to 0.8kg (1.8lb) and finally becoming modern birds.
They were the only dinosaurs to get continuously smaller, and their skeletons changed four times faster than other dinosaurs, which helped them to survive.
The results from the study are reported in the journal Science.
Mike Lee, from the University of Adelaide, led the team, and says, "Birds evolved through a unique phase of sustained miniaturization in dinosaurs. Being smaller and lighter in the land of giants, with rapidly evolving anatomical adaptations, provided these bird ancestors with new ecological opportunities, such as the ability to climb trees, glide and fly."
The fossil bones of a Limusaurus, probably a herbivorous theropod, were found in a Chinese dinosaur "death pit" in 2001. Between 2001 and 2005, a team explored pits in a remote area of northwest China where the remains of at least two types of previously unknown dinosaurs called theropods were found. (Photo courtesy Royal Tyrrell Museum)
Shrinking dinosaurs evolved into birds | World | News | Toronto Sun