Reptile & Amphibian Forums

That article that seemed to interest some people was a bit off in some respects. They used one specimen of dinosaur(microraptor), but failed to mention quite a bit of things.

Crocs tend to be a bit endothermic, at least, inertial hormotherms(endothermic as a result of their great mass).
this would give them a stable body tem compared to other reptiles.

Their ancestry to dinosaurs and birds is distant--they emerged from the same line of reptiles-archosaurs--but this was a VERY VERY Long time ago.

That little feathered dinosaur, microraptor, is not even the BEST example of a feathered dinosaur. There have been dozens discovered recently, many of them quite large, obviously flightless, and some sported big fans of feathers on their arms and tails, display feathers, kinds like peacocks tails.

the funny thing is that the later specimens, like velociraptors, caudipteryx, microraptor, etc(there are more) look far more bird like than the earlier ones, like archaeopteryx, which is often considerd to BE a bird.

One of the latest theories is that birds evolved fairly early, in the Jurassic, and some of these(this happens nowadays too, with ostriches, emus and other flightless birds) evolved to BE secondarily flightless. The fossil evidence actually supports this to a tee. Many MANY of the MOST birdlike dinosaurs could NOT fly, yet they look more like birds than some of them that COULD fly. There is great evidence that these dinosaurs--oviraptiors, dromeasours(velociraptors, troodontids,deinonychus,etc.) and some others(POSSIBLY the tyrannosaurs and other later therapods) are DECENDED from birds.

Dinosaurs evolved into birds, some flying, like confuciornis & archaeopteryx, and these flying birds(note, they HAD claws on their wings) and their relatives spawned flightless decendants. These flightless relatives still retained teeth and claws and tails, but still had remnant flight feathers and very birdlike bodies(folding wrists, wishbones, etc).

This explains why there are some dinosaurs that have wings on their arms. they can't fly, but they are there, nodes in the bone , impressions in the rocks, they're there.

It's absolutly fascinating.

If you want further info, pick up "Dinosaurs of the Air" by Gregory S. Paul--it's a hefty read, but well worht it.
Eric A

Hi Eric,

As I had mentioned, there were some arguable points and this was fodder for another forum - but then again, why NOT here? I think evolution in general is fascinating stuff. Having an interest in plant/pollinator interactions allows me to be constantly in awe of, and seeking knowledge in, how these two life forms have co-evolved. It is never ending. Thanks for the book recommendation I will look into it. Have you read any Stephen Jay Gould or Richard Dawkins?

lele

>>That article that seemed to interest some people was a bit off in some respects. They used one specimen of dinosaur(microraptor), but failed to mention quite a bit of things.
>>
>>Crocs tend to be a bit endothermic, at least, inertial hormotherms(endothermic as a result of their great mass).
>>this would give them a stable body tem compared to other reptiles.
>>
>>Their ancestry to dinosaurs and birds is distant--they emerged from the same line of reptiles-archosaurs--but this was a VERY VERY Long time ago.
>>
>>That little feathered dinosaur, microraptor, is not even the BEST example of a feathered dinosaur. There have been dozens discovered recently, many of them quite large, obviously flightless, and some sported big fans of feathers on their arms and tails, display feathers, kinds like peacocks tails.
>>
>>the funny thing is that the later specimens, like velociraptors, caudipteryx, microraptor, etc(there are more) look far more bird like than the earlier ones, like archaeopteryx, which is often considerd to BE a bird.
>>
>>One of the latest theories is that birds evolved fairly early, in the Jurassic, and some of these(this happens nowadays too, with ostriches, emus and other flightless birds) evolved to BE secondarily flightless. The fossil evidence actually supports this to a tee. Many MANY of the MOST birdlike dinosaurs could NOT fly, yet they look more like birds than some of them that COULD fly. There is great evidence that these dinosaurs--oviraptiors, dromeasours(velociraptors, troodontids,deinonychus,etc.) and some others(POSSIBLY the tyrannosaurs and other later therapods) are DECENDED from birds.
>>
>>Dinosaurs evolved into birds, some flying, like confuciornis & archaeopteryx, and these flying birds(note, they HAD claws on their wings) and their relatives spawned flightless decendants. These flightless relatives still retained teeth and claws and tails, but still had remnant flight feathers and very birdlike bodies(folding wrists, wishbones, etc).
>>
>>This explains why there are some dinosaurs that have wings on their arms. they can't fly, but they are there, nodes in the bone , impressions in the rocks, they're there.
>>
>>It's absolutly fascinating.
>>
>>If you want further info, pick up "Dinosaurs of the Air" by Gregory S. Paul--it's a hefty read, but well worht it.
>>Eric A
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

haven't read them. I read Greg Paul's older book several years ago, "predatory dinosaurs of the World". It's got some info that needs to be updated, but it's the first really detailed book on dinosaurs I have ever read, going into anatomy and metabolism, all illustrated in fine detail by the author. Fascinating stuff. It's been out since 88, but it's worth it if you can find it, as it's not too pricey anymore. the new book is about $50, but it's a good read.

The similarity between some dinosaurs and birds is amazing. A south american bird, the hoatzin, is born with clawed fingers. It climbs with them, much like dino-birds would have.

Really good stuff

There's even some fossil reptiles that look like they lived JSUT like chameleons. Prehensile tails, etc. Only instead of a tongue, they shot their head out like a snake strikes. Pretty cool too.