Term
| Characteristics of Aves (9) |
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Definition
- Feathers - Scales on feet and legs - Light skeleton with lots of fusion - Endothermic - No teeth - Oviparous: lay eggs - Presence of furcula - Forelimbs modified as wings - Hindlimbs variously modified to perching, walking, swimming |
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Term
Shared Features of Bird and Reptile Skulls |
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Definition
1. Lower jaw composed of 5-6 bones in both 2. Lower jaw articulates with quadrate (in mammals the quadrate becomes the incur) 3. Single occipital condyle 4. Single middle ear bone in both 5. Laterally expanded brain case 6. Sclerotic ring helps to support the eye in both |
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Term
| Maniraptora Characteristics |
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Definition
- Theropods that are getting really close to being birds - Have a semilunar carpal - Allows for hand to swivel which is for flight - Strap like scapula - Possession of feathers - Examples of Maniraptors - Caudipteryx - Protarchaeopteryx - Bambiraptor - Deinonychus - warm blooded dinosaur |
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Term
| Support for Feduccia's Theory that Birds from Thecopods |
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Definition
- Oldet maniraptor is 115 mya - Protoavis (210 mya) - Birds have a reversed hind toe, no dinosaur does - Reduction of digits in hand - Megaloancosaurus |
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