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Theropod-bird link reconsidered

Abstract

Norell et al.1 describe a Velociraptor ‘wishbone’ which they interpret as a new piece of evidence for the theropod origin of birds. The bone fits a pattern of furcula-like structures that have been discovered in certain late Cretaceous theropods, including Oviraptor, Ingenia and possibly others2, some of which possess clavicles — usually not fused. But this interpretation gives rise to problems of chronology, structure and function.

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References

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Feduccia, A., Martin, L. Theropod-bird link reconsidered. Nature 391, 754 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/35777

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