The curious case of how bird wrists evolved

This wrist’s twist is its link between dinosaurs and birds

Yale paleontologists are co-authors of a new study that may change our understanding of how a key wrist bone in birds evolved.

The curious case of how bird wrists evolved

Wrist evolution helped birds to conquer the air. Fossil data and analysis of a modern bird’s development reveal that this evolution preceded bird origins Wrist evolution helped birds to conquer the air. Fossil data and analysis of a modern bird’s development reveal that this evolution preceded bird origins

Keylistbones Emerged in Bird Ancestors Millions of Years Earlier Than Previously Believed

A group of paleontologists from Yale University and Stony Brook University made a significant discovery while studying dinosaur fossils, including two bird species found in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. This scene illustrates the oviraptorid dinosaur Citipati appearing astonished as it rests on sand dunes. The creature raises its arms in a threat display, exposing its [...] The post Keylistbones Emerged in Bird Ancestors Millions of Years Earlier T…

It’s All in the Wrist: Dinosaur Carpal Bone May Alter Scientists’ View of the Evolution of Flight

An analysis of two theropod dinosaur fossils showed they had a type of carpal bone (pisiform) in their wrists - a bone considered important to flight in birds. This discovery by a team of researchers led by James Napoli, PhD, of Stony Brook University, counters previous research that concluded theropods did not have a bird-like pisiform. Their finding, published in Nature, opens the possibility that the evolution of flight in dinosaurs was "all …