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011 Maybe smali maniraptorans were tre climbers that began to

Seven excitlng feathered finds

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anatomy of Epidexipteryx

glide from tree to tree g and later took to flappjng.

3- 02 Z Perhaps

01: Caudipteryx

(China, 1998)—an early oviraptor

02: Bambiraptor (USA, 2000)—a long-legged dromaeosaurid

03: Mei (China, 2004)— a troodontid found curled up in a sleeping position

04: Buitreraptor

(Aigentina, 2005)— a long-snouted dromaeosaurid

05: Mahakala (Mongolia, 2007)—a primitive dromaeosaurid from the Gobi Desert

06:

Shanag (Mongolia, 2007)—a crow-size dromaeosaurid known from part of a skuli

07: Hesperonychus

(Canada, 2009)—a tiny dromaeosaurid, related to Microraptor

Spectacular feathered fossils from China

show that some birdlike maniraptorans were very peculiar, with buck teeth or winglike legs.

Discovered in China, Epidexipteryx was one of the tiny scansoriopterygids. These long-fingered maniraptorans were tree climbers that ate insects.

Projecting teeth:

Nipped flying insects from midair

Taił straps: Were probably used in mating displays

Extra iong third finger

Winkled bugs from crevices

Slender hands:    'S Broad feet:

Gave good grip when climbing

Sturdy thighs:

Were muscled and enabled fast running

Provided a steady base

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maniraptorans used their feathered arms to boost” their speed as they ran on the ground.

03S An old idea is that the wings were stretched out to grab insects and that the flight stroke evolved from this.

041 Another idea is that bird ancestors “flew” underwater and later took to the air. Since maniraptorans were not aquatic, this is not likely.

05; Some modern bird chicks flutter their arms when running up slopes or tree trunks. Maybe maniraptorans did this, too, and the flight stroke soon followed.

Main maniraptoran groups

Dromaeosaurids

Predators with Iong arms and raised, sickle-shaped claws on their second toes.

Oviraptors    Troodontids

Short-snouted maniraptorans, Predators or omnivores with equipped with a few projecting closely packed, serrated teeth or a toothless beak.    teeth, and Iong legs.

Birds

The first birds were smali, long-armed, toothed predators of insects and lizards.

(c) 2011 Dorling Kindersley. Ali Rights Reserved