The theory thatbirds descend from theropodsit is commonly accepted. But how did wings evolve from the hands of those ancient dinosaurs? The remains ofLimusaurus inextricabilisfound in the Gobi desert, northwest China, may have the answer.
The embryos of modern birds suggest that in the evolution of the limbs of birds, an outer and an inner finger that their ancestors did possess were lost. Unlike other theropods, themanoofLimusaurusChinese has thereduced thumband thethree more developed middle fingers. “When placed in evolutionary context, this animal offers interesting evidence about how birds have evolved,” explains James Clark, a co-author of the finding. As if this were not enough, theLimusaurusthey were dinosaursweevils, toothless, small and herbivorous, unlike other close relatives like thetyrannosaurus rex.
Limusaurus inextricabilislived approximately 160 million years ago and was one of the first members of the group of theropods known as ceratosaurs, as published today inNatureXing Xu, from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing (China), and Professor James Clark, from George Washington University (USA).
(edited on 06/22/2009)
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