New bird evolution papers (Acta Zoologica Sinica)

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Two new articles in Acta Zoologica Sinica:

Sereno, P.C. (2004).  Birds as dinosaurs.  Acta Zoologica Sinica 50(6): 
991-1001.

ABSTRACT: The "great debate" over bird origins may never have transpired had 
the now-famous furcula-bearing, feathered dinosaurs from Asia surfaced when 
the beds in which they were interred were first discovered in the 1920s. 
Compelling fossil evidence is now to hand that places birds as a specialized 
Glade within theropod dinosaurs. Major insights include a more seamless 
fossil record linking birds and non-avian dinosaurs, clear evidence of an 
early pre-avian origin for feathers and other features previously known only 
among birds, together with an underscoring of the importance of 
miniaturization for the evolution of powered flight and a broadening of the 
functional scenarios for how powered bird flight was first achieved.

And you just have to admire the guy's perseverence...

Martin, L.D. (2004).  A basal archosaurian origin for birds.  Acta Zoologica 
Sinica 50(6): 978-990.

ABSTRACT: The controversy over the origin of birds may have been resolved 
through the discovery of new and remarkable fossils from the Triassic of 
Central Asia and the Early Cretacous of China. Flight probably originated in 
small, quadrupedal gliding archosaurs in the Triassic. Feathers originated 
for gliding rather than for insulation. The "maniraptoran dinosaurs" are 
actually derived from birds with at least gliding capabilities and primary 
feathers on the hands.



Tim