Exceptional preservation and foot structure reveal ecological transitions and lifestyles of early theropod flyers

The shape of bird toe pads and foot scales can be used to infer their behaviour. Here, the authors examine fossil evidence of toe pads and scales, in addition to claws and bones, from birds and close relatives, illustrating diverse lifestyles and ecological roles among early theropod flyers.

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michael Pittman, Phil R. Bell, Case Vincent Miller, Nathan J. Enriquez, Xiaoli Wang, Xiaoting Zheng, Leah R. Tsang, Yuen Ting Tse, Michael Landes, Thomas G. Kaye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-12-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35039-1