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Relationship between birds and dinosaurs
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Dinosaur to Bird
593 Words2 Pages
Recommended: Relationship between birds and dinosaurs
There is a strong amount of evidence in science to suggest that birds evolved from small theropod dinosaurs. To start on a common ground, natural selection must be understood. This is the process by which genetic mutations that enhances reproduction become and repeat more often in later generations (adapting them), eventually leading to evolutionary change. Since animals produce too many offspring, competition in the environment levels things out, creating a change in generations through favoring of traits. For this case, there were tons of dinosaurs of all different shapes, sizes, and colors living on the earth. In particular, there was one group that stood out among the rest, evolving throughout time, and surviving to the present. Theropod (meaning “beast-footed”) dinosaurs are a diverse group of bipedal (two-footed) dinosaurs with grasping hands and clawed digits. By looking at things like bone structures over time, fossil records, ________, embryology and ethology evidence, it is easy to see why it is commonly known that birds are the closest common ancestors of dinosaurs....
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Ceratopsians and Pachycephalosaurs
2049 Words | 5 PagesCeratopsians and Pachycephalosaurs Around 144 million years ago, began the emergence of the Ornithischian dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period and diversified into North America and Asia. Ornithischians were classified as having a hip structure similar to that of birds, although they are not the descendants of birds. Marginocephalians, meaning "fringed heads" are a group of Ornithischians that have a distinctive skull structure, consisting of a slight shelf or bony frill on the back of the skull, a unique palate, and a short hip structure. These herbivores include two major groups: the Ceratopsians and the Pachcephalosaurians. These plant-eaters include the Ceratopsians, horned dinosaurs such as the Triceratops, Styrachosaurus, Pentaceratops, and the Protoceratops.
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728 Words | 2 PagesPaul, Gregory S. (2002). "Looking for the True Bird Ancestor". Dinosaurs of the Air: The Evolution and Loss of Flight in Dinosaurs and Birds. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 171–224. ISBN 0-8018-6763-0.
Cannibalism and Feeding Habits of Dinosaurs
768 Words | 2 PagesCannibalism is a long-standing taboo in our society; the thought of humans preying on other humans for a food source disgusts and astounds us. Though the practice is not common amongst modern day humans there is some evidence to suggest that ancient humans resorted to such measures, and a recent discovery in Madagascar attests to the possibility that some carnivorous dinosaurs fed on their own species (Perkins, 2003).
Warm Blooded Versus Cold Blooded Dinosaurs
1534 Words | 4 PagesDinosaurs were first believed to be cold-blooded because they were thought to be related closely to reptiles which are cold-blooded creatures. Cold-blooded animals don’t actually have “cold” blood, instead they rely on the temperature from their environment to regulate their own body temperature. They do this by taking advantage of external heat by basking in the sun, and by lying in the shade to cool down. A more correct term is “ectothermic” which means “heat from outside.” On the other hand, a warm-blooded animal creates heat internally by chemical reactions inside their body. They are able to regulate their body temperature internally instead of relying on their environment. Author of the article, “Dinosaurs: Warm or Cold Blooded?” Beverly Eschberger explains, “endothermic animals have a continually high requirement for food to fuel the heat generation. Providing they can find food their constantly-optimum body temperature means that they can stay active even when it is very cold” (par 3). Even though it was believed that dinosaurs were closely related to cold-blooded reptiles, most dinosaurs had similar behaviors of a bird which is a warm blooded animal. Believing dinosaurs were warm blooded would help explain the reason why dinosaurs were so dominant and plentiful for such a long period of time. There are many other factors that play a vital role in ...
The Implications Involving Dinosaur DNA
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What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs?
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