Hypotheses On the Origin of Birds Since the advent of the theory of evolution the origin of birds has been a thriving topic in science. Many ideas and hypotheses have been presented, but only two stand today: that birds are descendents of ancient thecodont stem reptiles, and that birds are the direct descendents of a group of dinosaurs known as the coelurosaurs. Both hypotheses pose many interesting and insightful ideas based on information obtained from the fossil record. There is not enough
The transition between theropod dinosaur and bird is exquisitely documented in the fossil record and it is now widely accepted that birds are descended from theropod dinosaurs. Birds also share many traits with their dinosaurian ancestors, including bipedalism (the basal form of locomotion in dinosaurs) and digitigrade movement. However, there are several functional differences in bipedalism between basal theropods and their bird descendants. Non-avian theropods were, largely, terrestrial bipeds
Discoveries of the (Dinosaur) Incisivosaurus Gauthier, and (Hominid) Sahelanthropus Tchadensis In the year 2002 a bizarre looking theropod dinosaur fossil was found in China (Xu). It challenges the way researchers have been thinking of theropods and other dinosaurs for a long time. In the Sahara desert, the oldest hominid skull in the world was found that same year. These are just two of many discoveries that have challenged the way we perceive the ancient world. Incisivosaurus Gauthier was
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