Department of Geological Sciences | Indiana University (c) 2011, P. David Polly

G404 Geobiology

Pterodactylus and Archaeopteryx, Jurassic, Germany (painting from G. S. Paul, reproduced in Farlow and Brett-Surman, The

Complete Dinosaur)

Reading: Benton, Chapters 9 & first half of 10

Feathery dinosaurs and warm fuzziesMesozoic vertebrates II

Department of Geological Sciences | Indiana University (c) 2011, P. David Polly

G404 Geobiology

(Kardong, Vertebrates)

Vertebrate diversity through time

Department of Geological Sciences | Indiana University (c) 2011, P. David Polly

G404 Geobiology

Norell and Xu, 2005. Annual reviews of Earth and Planetary Sciences , 33: 277-299.

Relationships of birds within Theropoda

Department of Geological Sciences | Indiana University (c) 2011, P. David Polly

G404 Geobiology

Romer, 1966. Vertebrate Paleontology

Avian osteologySpecialized terms:

pygostyle - last caudal vertebra (insertion point for tail feathers)

tarsometatarsus - fused tarsal and metatarsal bones

carpometacarpus - fused carpal and metacarpal bones

furcula (wishbone) - fused clavicles

synsacrum - large sacrum fused to long series of dorsal vertebrae

Department of Geological Sciences | Indiana University (c) 2011, P. David Polly

G404 Geobiology

Kardong, Vertebrates

Avian skullReduction of number of bones, fusion of bones, evolution of cranial kinesis (joints in the skull) to permit upper beak movement

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G404 Geobiology

Living birds

Palaeognathae

Tinamous, kiwis, cassowaries, emus, rheas, and ostriches, plus extinct moas and others

Neognathae

Ducks, geese, raptors, owls, hummingbirds, nightjars, storks, shorebirds, loons, passerines, flamingos, woodpeckers, penguins, etc.

Department of Geological Sciences | Indiana University (c) 2011, P. David Polly

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Aves (Aviales)

Pygostylia

Neornithes (Aves)

Archaeopteryx

Jeholornis

Conf

usiu

sorn

ithid

ae

Ovira

ptor

osau

ria

Patagopteryx

Hes

pero

rnith

ofor

mes

Pala

eogn

atha

e

Icht

hyor

nith

iform

es

Neo

gnat

hae

* Nares located above antorbital fenestra* flight feathers* reversed hallux

Ornithurae

* pygostyle* retroverted pubis

* fewer than 11 thoracic vertebrae* globe-shaped proximal head of humerus

* teeth absent* quadrate fused to prootic

Bird phylogeny

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G404 Geobiology

Romer, 1966. Vertebrate Paleontology

North American Mesozoic birds

Icthyornis disparLate Cretaceous, North American seaway

Hesperornis regalisLate Cretaceous, North American seaway

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Louchart and Viriot, 2011. TREE, 1452.

Toothed birds of the Mesozoic

Department of Geological Sciences | Indiana University (c) 2011, P. David Polly

G404 Geobiology

Louchart and Viriot, 2011. TREE, 1452.

Reduction and loss of teeth in birds

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G404 Geobiology

Louchart and Viriot, 2011. TREE, 1452.

Evolutionary interactions related to tooth loss in birds

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Crown-group mammals

Monotremata

Echidnas, duck-billed platypus (egg laying)

Metatheria

Marsupials (no placenta, or transient placenta): possums, kangaroos, wombats, tasmanian devils, etc.

Eutheria

Placental mammals: rodents, bats, cats, deer, cattle, giraffes, pangolins, sloths, anteaters, whales, seals, primates, etc.

Department of Geological Sciences | Indiana University (c) 2011, P. David Polly

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Megazostrodon from Jenkins and Parrington, 1976

The first mammaliaform (stem-group mammals)Morganucodon watsoni, Late Triassic, Wales

Small bodied, insectivorous animal

* Dentary-squamosal jaw joint, retains reduced post-dentary elements

Family Morganucodontidae is radiation of similar animals

Department of Geological Sciences | Indiana University (c) 2011, P. David Polly

G404 Geobiology

Morganucodon watsoni, BM(NH) U.24, Late Triassic, Pontalun, Wales (Photo by P. David Polly)

Morganucodon watsoni, one of the first mammaliaformes

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Kardong, Vertebrates

Synapsids through time

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G404 Geobiology

From Luo, 2007, Nature, 450: 1011-1019

Mammaliaform diversity

1. Mammalia (Mammaliaformes)* dentary squamosal jaw joint* double rooted cheek teeth* expanded brain

2. Holotheria* tooth cusps arranged in triangle

3. Theriimorpha (Mammalia)* postdentary sulcus absent

Theria* tribosphenic molars

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Ji et al., Nature, 416: 816-822

Eomaia scansoriaYixian Fm., Liaoning, ChinaEarly Cretaceous, 125 mya

Oldest known placental mammal

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Ji et al., 2010. Science, 311: 1123-1127

Castorocauda lutrasmilusJiulongshan Fm., ChinaMiddle Jurassic, 164 mya

Swimming docodont mammals

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From Luo, 2007, Nature, 450: 1011-1019

Mesozoic mammaliform specializationsDiverse in Jurassic, reduced in Cretaceous, divers in Cenozoic

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From Luo, 2007, Nature, 450: 1011-1019

Mammaliaform radiation310 Mesozoic genera

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Scientific papers for further readingElzanowski, A. 2001. A new genus and species for the largest specimen of Archaeopteryx. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 46: 519-532.

Louchart, A. and L. Viriot. 2011. From snout to beak: the loss of teeth in birds. Trends in Evolution and Ecology, 1452.

Luo, Z-X. 2007. Transformation and diversification in early mammal evolution. Nature, 450: 1011-1019.

Norell, M.A. and X. Xu. 2005. Feathered dinosaurs. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 33: 277-299.