Bird evolution

[ryan112390]

For all fellow science geeks out there, who else finds the way birds evolved or at least are thought to have evolved fascinating?

[Ashling]

I find little more interesting, it is absolutely amazing. My theme for art is the manipulation of evolution and I am painting pet parrots that have developed arms out of their wings due to lack of flight in captivity (clipped wings).

[Reznik]

It is a very interesting topic. It has been determined that some dinosaurs actually had feathers, and some with beaks as well.

[hollyhawkz]

Was that you on another post that was doing this, or was that someone else? My memory is gone.....

The theme is kinda evolution - de-evolution, sometimes mother nature was right to begin with Ha ha!

[ryan112390]

bump...did you know a most scientists these days consider birds the last surviving dinosaurs?

[usamma]

Yep, my daughter is a big reader and pointed out that birds have scales, which are basically specialized feathers. Many dinosaurs had beaks that look very much like parrot beaks and for the same purpose.

Ashling, you should see the hoatzin. It is similar to your bird that you painted except that it has a claw halfway down the wing to enable gripping. The young birds use it to cling to trees before they can fly. :)

Lines of Evidence: Anatomy, Page 2 of 2

Hoatzin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



My daughter has a book called Walking with Dinosaurs that says,

IN the late 1960's John Ostram's study of the raptor Deinonychus . . . revisited characteristics such as the half-moon wrist bone that allowed both raptors and birds to swivel their "hands" sideways. In flight, birds use this ability to draw their wings in during the upward stroke and push them out during the downward stroke . . .

[Razzle]

What I find fascinating is that people keep insisting on being shocked that relatives of the dinosaurs are still around, and that they ponder the question "what made the dinosaurs die out and the other species still around not die out?" -- The only difference is that the "dinosaurs" are species of animals that went extinct at that time. Crocs are dinosaurs. Iguanas are dinosaurs. Spiders are among the oldest species on the planet. And what about ameobas?

[Kraut]

Crocs are archosaurs - a group that branched off to dinosaurs. Iguanas are from a family more ancient.

I do see your point though, and I think the difficulty is that most people see species as a stable thing, not a fluid or changing thing.

And believe me, I could go on! On my birthday they formally announced the discovery of a 16 foot long dromaeosaur (ie raptor) and it was the best birthday gift I got. ;D

[Razzle]

I just have to laugh when people literally go tripping over snakes to see if they can photograph Nessie.... :)

[Kraut]

Haha, I know...

I watch my mom's chickens with complete fascination. She has one breed that really does look like a feather covered dinosaur - the way they walk and move. They are pretty much free range so suppose that makes a difference.

But it's no accident I love birds so much. The dinosaur obsession from when I was a tiny child never went away. :)