Characterizing how variation in the tempo and mode of evolution has structured the
phenotypic diversity of extant species is a central goal of macroevolution,–. However …

Diverse research programs employing complementary strategies have been uncovering
cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms essential to avian beak development and …

The phylogenetic relationships of the major lineages within Dinosauria have come under
intense scrutiny in recent years. In 2017, a radical new hypothesis of early dinosaur …

The placental skull has evolved into myriad forms, from longirostrine whales to globular
primates, and with a diverse array of appendages from antlers to tusks. This disparity has …

The transformation of the bird skull from an ancestral akinetic, heavy, and toothed
dinosaurian morphology to a highly derived, lightweight, edentulous, and kinetic skull is an …

The interrelationships of the three major dinosaur clades (Theropoda, Sauropodomorpha,
and Ornithischia) have come under increased scrutiny following the recovery of conflicting …

All modern crocodyliforms (alligators, crocodiles and the gharial) are semi-aquatic generalist
carnivores that are relatively similar in cranial form and function. However, this homogeneity …

Using morphometrics to study nonavian dinosaur fossils is a practice that predates the origin
of the word “dinosaur.” By the 1970s, linear morphometrics had become established as a …

The independent movements and flexibility of various parts of the skull, called cranial
kinesis, are an evolutionary innovation that is found in living vertebrates only in some …

The origin of birds from theropod dinosaurs involves many changes in musculoskeletal
anatomy and epidermal structures, including multiple instances of convergence and …