Evolution of vision and hearing modalities in theropod dinosaurs.
Science
; 372(6542): 610-613, 2021 05 07.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33958472
ABSTRACT
Owls and nightbirds are nocturnal hunters of active prey that combine visual and hearing adaptations to overcome limits on sensory performance in low light. Such sensory innovations are unknown in nonavialan theropod dinosaurs and are poorly characterized on the line that leads to birds. We investigate morphofunctional proxies of vision and hearing in living and extinct theropods and demonstrate deep evolutionary divergences of sensory modalities. Nocturnal predation evolved early in the nonavialan lineage Alvarezsauroidea, signaled by extreme low-light vision and increases in hearing sensitivity. The Late Cretaceous alvarezsauroid Shuvuuia deserti had even further specialized hearing acuity, rivaling that of today's barn owl. This combination of sensory adaptations evolved independently in dinosaurs long before the modern bird radiation and provides a notable example of convergence between dinosaurs and mammals.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Adaptation, Physiological
/
Cochlear Duct
/
Dinosaurs
/
Biological Evolution
/
Night Vision
/
Hearing
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Science
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
South Africa