The Relation Between Birds and Dinosaurs

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The Relation Between Birds and Dinosaurs

One question that has stumped many paleontologists for centuries is, “Are birds dinosaurs?” Paleontologists have argued back and forth trying to prove or disprove each side of the theory. So far, advocates have supported their side through the facts of similar bone structures, bone organization, and the idea that dinosaurs had feathers. A common reaction that some people might have about the question is that there is no connection between the two species. Their main reasoning for this conclusion is based on the belief that the two do not have any similar characteristics. I too believed that there was no correlation between the two animals. However, after extensive research, I have completely changed my mind. I believe that birds are dinosaurs because they have similar bone structures, and they both possess feathers.

Bones are the major supporting facts which prove that birds are dinosaurs. Wishbones and swiveling wristbones are common bones shared between birds and dinosaurs. The discovery of dinosaur bones tells paleontologists what type of dinosaur it is. The arrangement of the bones also hints towards activities the dinosaur may have participated in. Chinese and American paleontologists located a dinosaur that was situated in a curled up position, similar to a sleeping duck’s pose. Mark Norell, Chairman of the Division of Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, states, “Not only are troodontids, [cousins of the tyrannosaurs], very closely related to birds, but this particular one is in a stereotypical resting pose of birds” (Lemmonick par. 7). This dinosaur was discovered perched on its back legs, forelimbs at its side, head buried under its left el...

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...at some dinosaur species had hollow bones, which is a distinguishing characteristic of birds. My final reason for believing that birds are dinosaurs is because dinosaurs also had feathers during some part of their life span. Feathers are the distinguishing factors that make birds, well…birds.

Works Cited

Chatterjee, Sankar. The Rise of Birds. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, 1997.

Czerkas, Sylvia J., Stephen A. Czerkas. Dinosaurs: A Global View. Spain: Dragon’s World

Ltd., 1990.

Lemonick, Michael D. “Dinosaur Tales: Did Today’s Birds Really Evolve from Dinosaurs?

Two Spectacular Discoveries Make the Case Even Stronger.” Time 25 Oct. 2004. 74.

Online. InfoTrac. 30 Oct. 2004 usouthal.edu/itw/infomark/512/617/56749422w2/purl=rc1_ITOF_0_A123294111& dyn=32!xrn_1_0_A123294111?sw_aepnaal _usam>.

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