1. Evolutionary History Birds first evolved about 155 million years ago from a reptilian ancestor and still share many characteristics with reptiles. First Bird Archaeopteryx lithographica

2. First Feather found 1861 This complete fossil found 1877

3. Archaeopteryx lithographica

4. Feathers not symmetrical in modern flying birds and in Archaeopteryx Feathers symmetrical in flightless birds Comparison of Feathers Europe, Asia, Africa - Rail New Zealand - Rail

5. 

8. 

9. Thecodonts

10. Some Reptilian Features of Birds Skull Nucleated Red Blood Cells Females: W and Z chromosomes Males: Z Z chromosomes One ear bone Scales Eggs

11. Comparison of Skeleton Archaeopteryx Pigeon

12. 

13. E E

14. Thecodont Reptile Longisquama

16. Theropod hypothesis of the origin of birds 1862 – Thomas Huxley Examples of evidence: Toes Wristbones fused, e.g. Oviraptor (+ eggs!)

17. Theropod Dinosaur Oviraptor

18. Oviraptor Eggs

19. Theropod hypothesis of the origin of birds 1862 – Thomas Huxley Examples of evidence: Toes Wristbones fused, e.g. Oviraptor (+ eggs!) Shoulder socket Louis Chiappe: “Take any bone in theropods and birds, and I can show how it links birds to dinosaurs.”

20. Theropod dinosaur Compsognathus

21. (Tyrannosaurus rex was a Theropod)

22. Some theropods and other dinosaurs in action http://www.youtube.com/v/VQbNdWnuitY (from Ritchison’s Website)

23. Some Theropod Dinosaurs had Feathers 1. Caudipteryx zoui

24. Some Theropod Dinosaurs had Feathers 2. Microraptor

25. Some Theropod Dinosaurs had Feathers 3. Sinosauropteryx

26. Part of Theropod Proposal Feathers first evolved as thermoregulatory structures from modified reptilian scales.

27. Proposals of Evolution of Flight – Dichotomy(?) Arboreal Hypothesis Cursorial Hypothesis

28. Proposals of Evolution of Flight – Arboreal and Cursorial Dichotomy (?) Arboreal Hypothesis Walter Bock Alan Feduccia

29. Proposals of Evolution of Flight – Arboreal and Cursorial Dichotomy (?) Arboreal Hypothesis 1. ancestral ground-dwelling quadrapedal reptile 2. bipedal ground-dweller 3. bipedal and arboreal life 4. leaping between trees 5. parachuting

30. Proposals of Evolution of Flight – Arboreal and Cursorial Dichotomy (?) Arboreal Hypothesis 6. gliding 7. active powered flight Feathers first evolved as stabilizers for gliding.

31. Proposals of Evolution of Flight – Arboreal and Cursorial Dichotomy (?) Cursorial Hypothesis J. H. Ostrom Feathers on forelimbs became “insect nets” to catch prey. (excellent example of pre-adaptation for flight later)

32. Proposals of Evolution of Flight – Arboreal and Cursorial Dichotomy (?) Cursorial Hypothesis J. H. Ostrom Selective pressure would lead to increase in forelimb (wing) size to increase prey capture – leading to short and then longer flights from the ground.

33.  E Combination