The birds of today are most closely related to a group of two-legged theropods that weighed between 100 pounds and 500 pounds, huge by modern-day bird standards, Scientific American reports.
When the asteroid struck 66 million years ago, most dinosaurs were forced into extinction, but the bird-like dinosaurs survived.
Our current understanding of the evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs was aided by the discovery of hundreds of dinosaur fossils, mostly in China, beginning in the 1980s, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. These fossils reinforced scientists’ theory that some dinosaurs were warm blooded and covered in feathers.
But wings and feathers aren’t the only things birds and dinosaurs have in common. Many dinosaurs, including T. rex and other velociraptors as well as the massive apatosaurus (formerly known as the brontosaurus), had the same hyper-efficient respiratory systems that set birds apart from other animals, according to the Cornell Lab.
While the link between birds and dinosaurs is clearly and firmly established, many mysteries remain. Among these is why some dinosaurs — including those related to birds — survived the extinction. Theories abound, including ideas about their varied diets, ability to fly, small size and even nesting ability. Perhaps most likely is that a combination of these characteristics contributed to their survival, but study continues to further understand the link between birds and dinosaurs.
Credit : The Buzz
Picture Credit : Google
