New Perspectives on the Origin and Early Evolution of Birds Evolution of Feathered Dinosaurs Growth and Physiology A new perspective on the origin of endothermy
نویسنده
چکیده
A new hypothesis for the origin of endothermy in birds is discussed. I suggest extensive parental care provided the initial impetus for the evolution of endothermy. Among extant animals one of the most important functions of an endothermic metabolism is the incubation of embryos. Furthermore, I propose that extensive parental care is a key innovation that greatly influenced much of the homoplasy observed in extant birds and mammals, including their extraordinary ability to sustain vigorous exercise and their parasagittal postures.
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and received his Ph.D. degree with honors at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of the University of Kansas in 1999. He returned to China in 1999 with the support of the " Hundred Talents Project " of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His main research interest is on the origin and early evolution of birds, feathers, and bird flight. He is also involved in the study of Mesozoic f...
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