Microraptor Zhaoianus Discovery Strengthens the Dinosaur-Bird Connectio

Microraptor Zhaoianus Discovery Strengthens the Dinosaur-Bird Connection TheoryThe evolutionary connection between dinosaurs and birds (that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs) has long been theorized and is today generally accepted as a scientifically viable school of thought. Furthermore, several monumental discoveries have recently been made (21st century) in the area of the fossil record which have acted to solidify this evolutionary connection, drawing the evidentiary ties between dinosaurs and birds even closer together. Paramount among these new unearthings is the recent discovery (in 2000) of the Microraptor zhaoianus. In the following analysis I will taste to summarize both the discovery of this unusual specie, and the impact the discovery has had on the school of thought regarding the evolution of birds.The discovery expressed in the original member of my research is that of a Microraptor zhaoianus fossil. The Microraptor zhaoianus is classified as a non-avian, dro maeosaurid (swift lizard), which is a subgroup of the theropods11. The theropods were a group of raptors whose characteristics included small size, bipedalism, and a close relation to birds22. Certainly, there is no doubt that the Microraptor fits this description. The size of the Microraptor is indeed a large part of what makes its discovery so important. On the whole, non-avian dinosaurs are classified as medium to large size entities. However, the Microrapto is unusually small as its body measures a mere 47 mm33. In fact, it is the first fully mature non avian dinosaur on record that has been give to be smaller (only slightly) than the earliest known bird, Archaeopteryx44. Furthermore, in addition to its comparabl... ...arning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/glossary/Dromaeosaur.shtml (15 March 2004). 33 Xu, 705-708.44 Xu, 705-708.55 Anna Salleh, Chinese macroraptor looks like bird-dinosaur link 8 December 2000, http//www.abc.net.au/science/ give-and-take/stories/s221244.htm (1 5 March 2004).66 Xu, 705-708.77 Xu, 705-708.88 Xu, 705-708.99 Salleh,1.1010 Xu, 705-708.1111 Xu, 705-708.1212 Xu, 705-708.1313 Xu, 705-7081414 Richard Prum, Paleontology Dinosaurs take to the air, Nature 421, no. 6921 (2003) 323. 1515 Prum, 323.1616 Xu, 705-708.1717 Paul Willis, Dinosaur fossil with proto-feathers, 8 March 2001, http//www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s256326.htm (5 April 2004).1818 Paul Willis, Missing link from skin to feathers, 27 April 2001, http//www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s283717.htm (5 April 2004).