1

The American Biology Teacher

The Relationship of Birds and Theropod

Dinosaurs
Vincent Rivera

http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/033/348/i02/archaeopteryx-color-121113a-02.jpg?1352851358

ABSTRACT
Through research conducted, this article displays an analysis of various fascinating pieces
of information regarding the relationship between birds and dinosaurs. In particular theropod
dinosaurs. This review will go over evidence that has been discovered that suggests that birds
and dinosaurs are part of the same evolutionary line and that one is a descendant of the other
through fossil evidence and comparative analysis. The review will go over a few traits that
provide evidence of the connection between the species, those being bone structure, the presence
of feathers, wing development and skeletal configuration.

OSTROMS ARGUMENT
One of the arguments that has come up in relation to dinosaurs and birds being linked
comes from a man named John Ostrom, a professor at Yale University during the 1970s. This
now revolutionary theory starts with a fossil of a small bird-like dinosaur known as
Archaeopteryx (meaning original bird or first bird in Latin) that served to prove Ostroms
point in his argument. His argument is a counter to a fellow scholar, Gerhard Heilmann, in which
he compared the fossil of Archaeopteryx was most similar in bone structure to dinosaurs found in
the coelurosaurian ancestry of theropods (Flannery, 1999). However, it was rejected due to
differences in the skeletons. This trait was the lack of a clavicle, which was the precursor to the
furcula in modern birds. This was an interesting denial since even when theropods besides
Archaeopteryx were discovered to have clavicles, it was left unquestioned. In order to prove his
point, he went on to point out each of the traits within Archaeopteryxs bone structure and
theorized that these parts were the makings of a prehistoric bird.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/files/2014/07/Davide-Bonnadonna-theropod-size-evolution-600-px-tinyJuly-August-Darren-Naish-Tetrapod-Zoology.jpg

To further understand the arguments surrounding this categorization, we should go over

how exactly dinosaurs are categorized in the fossil record. Based on certain traits evident in the

skeleton of the creature, dinosaurs are categorized into various scientific classifications. This
would include Kingdom, Phylum, Order and Suborder to name a few. In particular, we will be
looking at the dinosaurs suborder, as this distinction is the subject of debate. Archaeopteryx is
said to be similar to other theropod dinosaurs. Theropods, or Theropada is a suborder of
dinosaur that is noted by their bipedal posture, long tails and trend towards being carnivorous
(Rashid et. al, 2014). Famous dinosaurs such as Velociraptor and Tyrannosaurus Rex also belong
to this suborder. .

A MISSING LINK

http://www.csotonyi.com/Sinosauropteryx_scene.jpg

Further evidence of Ostroms claim eventually came in the form of a fossil that was
discovered in the Yixian Formation in the Liaoning province of China (Gibbons, 1996). The
skeleton of the creature, named Sinosauropteryx prima, indicated it was incredibly small,
potentially being a relative to Compsognathus. The creature was found in two pieces after being
sold by an individual and was put back together by a researcher studying other fossils at the time.

The main trait that was noted by researchers was the potential evidence for feathers in the fossil.
One article states the discovery as such upon analysis of the stone in the fossil; You could see at
the nape of the neck something that looks like downy feathers with a central stem, or rachis.
This squarely places the new Chinese fossil as being somewhere in between a modern bird and a
prehistoric dinosaur along with various other specialized specimen.

FEATHERED BEASTS

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s-H4t4bko7--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/18cfnt1gqz1zhjpg.jpg

The now widely accepted theory in relation to dinosaur morphology is the idea that
dinosaurs have feathers. The conclusion that dinosaurs had feathers before they developed wings
or the ability to fly brings up another question. Why exactly did dinosaurs have feathers if they
did not fly with them. It is unlikely that these feathers were used for flight in their current state.
These feathers were considered shafted or protofeathers, meaning they lacked the structural
capability to maintain the proper aerodynamics needed for flight (Fucheng, 2006). One theory
brought up by paleontologist Robert Bakker of Casper College in Wyoming is that dinosaurs

were not the cold blooded reptiles that are often depicted in media. Instead, they may have been
warm blooded like modern birds and mammals. Gibbons (1996) suggests that the feathers would
act like the downy fur of various creatures and would be used to trap body heat. Another theory
besides this also suggests that the furs were not downy covering for warmth during the winter,
but rather they were flashy, bright symbols of display that dinosaurs would use to attract a mate
through their vibrant colors and splendid designs. This kind of behavior is very common among
birds such as peacocks.

APPEARANCE OF WINGS

http://geology.cwru.edu/~huwig/catalog/slides/695.I.8.jpg

With the feathers explained, another question comes to mind along with another theory.
Why exactly would dinosaurs begin to make the transition into birds? Why would these creatures
develop wings? One theory brought up is that the flapping of wings in order to achieve upward

thrust first came from relatively harmless predatory movements of the arms that would be made
by creatures such as velociraptor (Gibbons, 1996). Over time as the dinosaurs began to develop,
this flapping would eventually provide lift and over millions of years of evolution, their bodies
adapted to fully accommodate this new change and allow for propelled flight.

BONE STRUCTURE

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/sites/default/files/resources/articles/bats/human-bird-bone-comparison-540.gif

Bone structure is the subject of some comparison among scientists when it comes to the
physiology of birds and dinosaurs. In order to fly the bones of birds have are partly hollow and
contain various air cells within them, making the bones lighter (Kurochkin, 2006). With birds,
this makes sense since if their bones were completely solid like other animals, they would have
to have much larger wings and a much higher metabolism to produce enough energy and lift in
order to get themselves off the grounds. This feature can be seen in the skeletons of theropod

dinosaurs as well. In comparison, mammal bones are typically shown to have parallel aligned
canaliculi, making the bones more dense and solid as a result (Rensberger, 2000). This feature of
more hollow bones most likely began to develop as dinosaurs became more airborne and put use
to their feathers by developing wings. This clumsy method of propulsion would be refined and
further developed as time went on and evolution ran its course.

In addition to the internal bone structure the skeletal structure itself has some variations.
For instance, the tails of theropods compared to modern birds is quite different. Birds and
theropods share a list of similarities in their internal physiology, including a double-condyled
dorsal joint, furcula (see image above) and a posterior caudal vertebrae to name a few
(Kurochkin, 2006). As previously referenced, the furcula was an interesting bit of the anatomy as
it was not considered to initially be part of the theropod bone structure until Ostroms theory
came to light and these features were given official recognition. The development of the tail from
the long reptilian one of theropods to the shortened bird tail is a significant event in bird

evolution. Due to their bipedal posture, Rashid (2014) suggests that the long tails of theropod
dinosaurs were most likely used as a sort of counterbalance, presumably to maintain posture and
improve turning. It is hypothesized that the change in bone structure for the tails to a more fanlike design came up in a remarkably short span of time by evolution standards and developed in
order to assist the newly airborne species achieve smoother flight. With a more aerodynamic size
and changes in size, it comes as no surprise these creatures would eventually take to the skies.

CONCLUSION
Overall, the theory of dinosaurs and birds being related is a fascinating and now widely
accepted one that serves to shed some light on these fascinating prehistoric creatures. They are
creatures in the middle of a transition, creatures massive or minuscule whose features can be
seen in the birds of modern day. Sharing features such as lighter bones, similar bone structure
and even feathers, the two species seem much more similar than media would have one believe.
While there are a fair share of differences between the two, it is fascinating to observe these
changes, in order to get a better idea of how far these species have developed.

Bibliography
Flannery, M. (1999). Dinosaurs & Birds. The American Biology Teacher, 61(9), 701-705.
Fucheng, Z. , Zhonghe, Z. , & Dyke, G. (2006). Feathers and featherlike integumentary
structures in liaoning birds and dinosaurs. Geological Journal, 41(34), 395-404.
Gibbons, A. (1996). Paleontology - New Feathered Fossil Brings Dinosaurs and Birds Closer.
Science, 274(5288), 720-721.
Kurochkin, E.N. (2006). Parallel Evolution of Theropod Dinosaurs and Birds. Entomological
Review, 86(S1), S45-S58.
Rashid, D. , Chapman, S. , Larsson, H. , Organ C. , Bebin, A. , Merzdorf, C. , Bradley R. , &
Horner, J. (2014). From Dinosaurs to Birds: A Tail of Evolution. EvoDevo, 5(1), 1-16.
Rensberger, J. (2000). Fine Structure of Bone in Dinosaurs, Birds and Mammals. Nature,
406(6796), 619-622

NOTE: This review article uses ABT style citations and is based around the guidelines for a The
American Biology Teacher article.