Macroevolutionary trends in Ceratosauria body size: insights of phylogenetic comparative methods.

ABSTRACT: Patterns of body size evolution in dinosaurs are relevant for understanding the evolutionary trends that have shaped the disparity of phenotypes observed in the fossil record. In this sense, previous studies have suggested that Abelisauridae followed Cope´s rule and Noasauridae exhibited a phylogenetic trend towards decreasing body size. However, the absence of a comprehensive analysis including ecological, phylogenetic and socio-sexual factors make it necessary to reevaluate body size evolution in Ceretatosauria under a modern phylogenetic comparative approach. Therefore, we aimed to test whether body size evolved in Ceratosauria in accordance with Cope´s rule, evaluate what factors best explain differences in body size within Ceratosauria and examine what patterns of evolution rates, sel

SUBMITTER: Pereyra EES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11994025 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature