Pterosaurs to Birds: High level similarities

Saturday, May 28, 2022

High level similarities

High level similarities:

Pterosaur pterodactylid (eg tupandactylus):

Membrane wing

Longest 4th finger

Stage IIIa feathers

Short bony tail

Paraves scansoriopterygid (eg epidexipteryx):

Membrane wing

Longest 4th finger

Stage IIIa feathers

Short bony tail

Significant evidence that short bony tailed pterodactylid developed into short bony tailed scansoriopterygid.

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Here is a summary of the basic ideas of this site:

Birds developed in a lineage from short bony tailed pterosaurs to short bony tailed scansoriopterygids that developed into basal pygostylia that developed into modern birds. A side lineage earlier developed from the long tailed pterosaurs to long bony tailed scansoriopterygids. That lineage went extinct. The category called coelurosaur dinosaurs includes only actual dinosaurs (eg. tyrannosaurs). It does not include birds. The fossil record supports the pterosaur-to-bird theory. The fossil record does not support the dinosaur-to-bird theory.