Work

New Specimens of Microraptor zhaoianus (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae) from Northeastern China

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: New specimens of the diminutive theropod dinosaur Microraptor zhaoianus are described. These specimens preserve significant morphological details that are not present or are poorly preserved in the holotype specimen, including aspects of the manus, pectoral girdle, dorsal vertebrae, ilium, and sacrum. These specimens were coded into a current matrix of theropod morphological characters. Microraptor is found to be the sister taxon to other dromaeosaurs. Dromaeosaurids are monophyletic and together with a monophyletic troodontid group form a monophyletic Deinonychosauria, which is the sister taxon to Avialae. Apparently small size is primitive for Deinonychosauria, which has implications for bird origins.

Source: American Museum Novitates

DOI: 10.1206/0003-0082(2002)381<0001:nsomzt>2.0.co;2

Authors: SUNNY H. HWANG, MARK A. NORELL, JI QIANG, GAO KEQIN

Institutions: American Museum of Natural History, Peking University, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology

Subfield: Paleontology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences

OpenAlex ID: W2155061619

FWCI: 3.699

Cites: 23

Cited by: 185

Related to: 8