https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8752596/file/8752597.pdf
To our knowledge, stage IIIa feathers have not previously been reported in pterosaurs. The Tupandactylus branched structures resemble those in the dromaeosaurid dinosaur Sinornithosaurus millenii27, which are considered homologous to avian feathers28, and differ from the three types of branched feathers described in anurognathid pterosaurs2 .
This mode of branching is directly comparable to that in stage IIIa feathers19,20 of extant birds, that is, with barbs branching from a central rachis. This is strong evidence that the fossil branched structures are feathers comprising a rachis and barbs.
In other words the pterosaur Tupandactylus stage IIIa feathers resembled those in Sinornithosaurus (paraves/dromaeosauridae) which are considered homologous to avian feathers.
This is exceptional support for the pterosaur to bird theory.
For reference:
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_non-avian_dinosaur_species_preserved_with_evidence_of_feathers
https://pterosaurnet.blogspot.com/2016/10/feathers.html
http://prumlab.yale.edu/sites/default/files/prum_n_brush_2002.pdf
ReplyDeleteIntegumental appendages that share
unique, derived features with avian feathers
are now known from eight different nonavian
theropod taxa: Sinosauropteryx, Shuvuuia, Beipiaosaurus, Caudipteryx, Protarchaeopteryx, Sinornithosaurus, Microraptor, and two unnamed
basal dromaeosaurs from the Yixian Formation.
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.Ha9Q_L7urZMhmANZXkp2cgHaF_?w=216&h=180&c=7&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.5&pid=1.7
ReplyDelete2019 study:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/329715712_Pterosaur_integumentary_structures_with_complex_feather-like_branching
Peer review information Nature thanks Michael Benton, Stephen Brusatte and Xing Xu for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Peer reviewer reports are available.
ReplyDelete