Birds are key indicator species in extant ecosystems, and thus we would expect extinct birds to provide insights into the nature of ancient ecosystems. However, many aspects bird ecology, particularly their diet, remain obscure. One group particular interest is bizarre toothed long-snouted longipterygid birds. Longipterygidae most well-understood family enantiornithine birds, dominant Cretaceous period. as with Mesozoic diet remains entirely speculative.

Abstract Morphology of keratinised toe pads and foot scales, hinging joints claw shape size all inform the grasping ability, cursoriality feeding mode living birds. Presented here is morphological evidence from fossil feet early theropod flyers. Foot soft tissues joint articulations are qualitatively assessed using laser-stimulated fluorescence. Pedal quantitatively analysed traditional morphometrics. We interpret these data among existing to better understand evolutionary ecology Jurassic...

Abstract Soft tissue preservation in fossil birds provides a rare window into their anatomy, function, and development. Here, we present an exceptionally-preserved specimen of Confuciusornis which, through Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence imaging, is identified as preserving disassociated rhamphotheca. Reconstruction the vivo position rhamphotheca validates association with two previous confuciusornithid specimens while calling that third question. The ease dissociation discussed proposed...

Abstract Non-avialan theropod dinosaurs had diverse ecologies and varied skull morphologies. Previous studies of cranial morphology mostly focused on higher-level taxa or characteristics associated with herbivory. To better understand morphological disparity function within carnivorous families, here we focus the Dromaeosauridae, ‘raptors’ traditionally seen as agile hunters. We applied 2D geometric morphometrics to quantify shape, performed mechanical advantage analysis assess efficiency...

The diet of Mesozoic birds is poorly known, limiting evolutionary understanding birds' roles in modern ecosystems. Pengornithidae one the best understood families birds, hypothesized to eat insects or only small amounts meat. We investigate these hypotheses with four lines evidence: estimated body mass, claw traditional morphometrics, jaw mechanical advantage, and finite element analysis. Owing limited data, diets

Enantiornithines were the dominant birds of Mesozoic, but understanding their diet is still tenuous. We introduce new data on enantiornithine family Bohaiornithidae, famous for large size and powerfully built teeth claws. In tandem with previously published data, we comment breadth ecology potential patterns in which it evolved. Body mass, jaw mechanical advantage, finite element analysis jaw, traditional morphometrics claws skull are compared between bohaiornithids living birds. find to be...

Abstract Foramina of bones are beginning to yield more information about metabolic rates and activity levels living extinct species. This study investigates the relationship between estimated blood flow rate femur body mass among cursorial birds extending back Late Cretaceous. Data from fossil foramina compared with those extant species, revealing similar scaling relationships for all supporting crown bird–like terrestrial locomotor activity. Because perfusion in long is related cost...

Brain metabolic rate (MR) is linked mainly to the cost of synaptic activity, so may be a better correlate cognitive ability than brain size alone. Among primates, sizes arterial foramina in recent and fossil skulls can used evaluate blood flow rate, which proportional MR. We use this approach calculate internal carotid arteries <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mo stretchy="false">(</mml:mo> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mover> <mml:mi>Q</mml:mi>...

Earth and Space Science Open Archive This work has been accepted for publication in Other. Version of RecordESSOAr is a venue early communication or feedback before peer review. Data may be preliminary. Learn more about preprints. preprintOpen AccessYou are viewing the latest version by default [v2]The Diet Early Birds Based on Modern Fossil Evidence New Framework its ReconstructionAuthorsCaseMilleriDMichaelPittmaniDSee all authors Case MilleriDCorresponding Author• Submitting AuthorThe...

The “opposite birds” Enantiornithines were the dominant birds of Mesozoic, but our understanding their ecology is still tenuous. In particular, diets enantiornithine species have remained speculative until recently. While this new work has been effective at determining diet within groups enantiornithines, data thus far too sparse to comment on larger trends in diversity and evolution ecology. We introduce family Bohaiornithidae, famous for large size strong teeth claws. tandem with...

Enantiornithines were the dominant birds of Mesozoic, but understanding their diet is still tenuous. We introduce new data on enantiornithine family Bohaiornithidae, famous for large size and powerfully built teeth claws. In tandem with previously published data, we comment breadth ecology potential patterns in which it evolved. Body mass, jaw mechanical advantage, finite element analysis jaw, traditional morphometrics claws skull are compared between bohaiornithids living birds. find to be...

Abstract We describe a unique three-dimensionally preserved fossil down feather from the Late Cretaceous of Myanmar. It’s morphology is highly congruent with Stage IIIb widely accepted Prum and Brush model evolution-development. This makes new specimen first evidence this developmental stage in record. The diagnosis robustly supported by absence central rachis its paired barbules emanating radially positioned barbs that are attached to short calamus. Brush’s hypothesises bifurcation...

Although knowledge of Mesozoic marine reptiles from Antarctica has improved considerably in recent years, associated and well-preserved skeletal material these animals remains uncommon. Here we describe a largely complete, closely plesiosaur pelvic girdle recovered the uppermost Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Sandwich Bluff Member López de Bertodano Formation Vega Island, James Ross Basin northernmost Antarctic Peninsula. The new specimen exhibits characters that allow its referral to...

Earth and Space Science Open Archive This preprint has been submitted to is under consideration at Other. ESSOAr a venue for early communication or feedback before peer review. Data may be preliminary.Learn more about preprints preprintOpen AccessYou are viewing an older version [v1]Go new versionThe Diet of Early Birds Based on Modern Fossil Evidence New Framework its ReconstructionAuthorsCaseMilleriDMichaelPittmaniDSee all authors Case MilleriDCorresponding Author• Submitting AuthorThe...

Abstract The “opposite birds” Enantiornithines were the dominant birds of Mesozoic, but our understanding their ecology is still tenuous. In particular, diets enantiornithine species have remained speculative until recently. While this new work has been effective at determining diet within groups enantiornithines, data thus far too sparse to comment on larger trends in diversity and evolution ecology. We introduce family Bohaiornithidae, famous for large size strong teeth claws. tandem with...

The “opposite birds” Enantiornithines were the dominant birds of Mesozoic, but our understanding their ecology is still tenuous. In particular, diets enantiornithine species have remained speculative until recently. While this new work has been effective at determining diet within groups enantiornithines, data thus far too sparse to comment on larger trends in diversity and evolution ecology. We introduce family Bohaiornithidae, famous for large size strong teeth claws. tandem with...