The patterns and modes of the evolution of disparity in Mesozoic birds.

ABSTRACT: The origin of birds from non-avian theropod dinosaurs is one of the greatest transitions in evolution. Shortly after diverging from other theropods in the Late Jurassic, Mesozoic birds diversified into two major clades-the Enantiornithes and Ornithuromorpha-acquiring many features previously considered unique to the crown group along the way. Here, we present a comparative phylogenetic study of the patterns and modes of Mesozoic bird skeletal morphology and limb proportions. Our results show that the major Mesozoic avian groups are distinctive in discrete character space, but constrained in a morphospace defined by limb proportions. The Enantiornithines, despite being the most speciose group of Mesozoic birds, are much less morphologically disparate than their sister clade, the Ornithuromo

SUBMITTER: Wang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7893231 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature