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What evidence suggests to researchers that birds and dinosaurs evolved from a common ancestor?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
First of all, there are noticeable skeletal similarities between birds and the carnivorous dinosaurs known as theropods. Some of the smaller theropods such as archeopteryx, microraptor, and velociraptor (which was much smaller than was shown in Juraasic Park) were extremely birdlike, not just in their skeletons but in possessing large feathers identical to the flight feathers of birds. Furthermore, soft tissue samples have been found preserved in tyrannosaurus bones. Chemical analysis of the preserved proteins finds that they are very similar to bird proteins.
Contrary to the popular depiction of dinosaurs carrying their arms with the "palms" facing downward or backward, they actually carried them facing inward and could not turn the wrists to make them face downward. Overall these posture in many dinosaurs was similar the the posture of bird wings when at rest.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThere are a number of small theropods that have many features in common with birds. These include honeycomb bones, to reduce weight, feathers, which would have evolved to allow flight, and a wishbone, wish is used by birds for flight. Some of these theropods, such as Archaeopteryx, look like hybrids of birds and dinosaurs, yet they have enough feathers on their arms that technically, they have wings capable of allowing gliding.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThere is no evidence.
Evolution is a theory, not a fact.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoTheir bone structure
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoTeridactyl
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Did a supernova kill the dinosaurs?
Probably not. Current evidence suggests that the dinosaurs were wiped out by an asteroid impact, possibly in combination with an outburst of volcanic activity.
Did dinosaur only live in the forest?
No, evidence suggests that dinosaurs lived in deserts and on plains as well as in forests.
How did megalosaurus raise their young?
Fossil evidence suggests that most dinosaurs (excluding sauropods) raised their young. There is no evidence I know of that proves Megalosaurus specifically did, but they probably did.
Are dinosaurs extinct land reptiles?
Current research suggests dinosaurs are more closely related to birds than land reptiles. There is fossil evidence of dinosaurs with feathers, and it has even been speculated that dinosaurs are warm blooded, unlike reptiles.
Why do some believe the dinosaur is the first ancestor of the bird?
Dinosaurs are not the first ancestors of birds. The first ancestor would be the ancestor of all life on earth. However, birds are a branch of the dinosaurs. Many dinosaurs, particularly a group of mostly small predators called maniraptorans, have very birdlike skeletal structure. Furthermore, a growing number of dinosaur species are now known to have had feathers. Recently, chemical analysis of soft tissue preserved in a T-rex fossil found proteins nearly identical to those found in birds. Some dinosaur fossils have been earthed with evidence that they had a complex respiratory system like that of a bird. Other evidence, such as a four-chambered heart, clues in bone microstructure, and indicators of active lifestyles suggests that many dinosaurs were warm-blooded.
Are whales related to dinosaurs?
Very distantly. Whales are mammals, and both mammals and dinosaurs share a common reptilian ancestor that lives in the carboniferous period.
What evidence suggests that dinosaurs were driven to extinction by a meteor strike?
The fact that they died roughly at the same time and a massive crater in Arizona, dated to the time they died, if I'm not mistaken.
When did seals come?
Recent molecular evidence suggests that pinnipeds (finned feet), of which seals are a part, evolved from a bearlike ancestor about 23 million years ago. They were originally land mammals exclusively.
Are birds dinosaurs?
There has been research done that indicates that birds have evolved from dinosaurs. and mounting evidence shows that theropod dinosaurs are the ancestors of birds. Evidence includes countless skeletal similarities and evidence of feathers in many fossils. Feathers were thought to originally developed for warmth, and eventually evolved into flight aids.In face of this many scientists do consider birds to be descended from dinosaurs, if not a branch of them.Answer:Birds do have many features in common with theropods (bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs) which suggests that they had a common ancestor. We dont know that this common ancestor was a dinosaur though. It may well have been a bird (see related links). Looking back in time through the theropod fossil record, these dinosaurs appear to be more bird-like the further back in time you look. Raptors are known to have had feathers and were fairly bird-like, but Archaeopteryx was much more bird-like and lived much earlier and may have been an ancestor of the raptors. There is also a controversial fossil called Protoavis that was dated even earlier and was more bird-like still, with hollow bones like modern birds.So birds may have been around throughout the mesozoic era and even pre-date the dinosaurs. We have little record of them though because their hollow bones decompose very easily so are less likely to leave fossils. We do have some very ancient bird footprints though (see 3rd link).It may be more accurate to call the theropods flightless birds, rather than calling birds dinosaurs.
Do dinosaurs have could or warm bould?
It is unknown whether dinosaurs were warm or cold blooded. Evidence suggests the former, because some lived in cold climates year round, they grew at a similar rate to warm blooded animals, and their descendants, birds, are warm blooded.
Does Kim Kardashian smoke?
There is no evidence which suggests that Kim Kardashian is a smoker.
Did turtles live right before dinosaurs?
Animals that are definitely turtles are found from the later Jurassic period, with some almost-turtles like Proganochys found in the late Triassic. The first dinosaurs are found in the early Triassic. So far, fossil evidence suggests that turtle-like possible ancestors with partial shells predate dinosaurs, but dinosaurs predate true turtles.
