albertonykus
Well-known member
Buscalioni, A.D. (2025)
Scientific and artistic representations in avian evolution
Spanish Journal of Palaeontology (advance online publication)
doi: 10.7203/sjp.30463
This essay explores the relationship between artistic and scientific perspectives in the depiction of birds' formal organization. It highlights how both fields converge in fundamental questions that shape the identity of avian organisms. Historically, early approaches to avian evolution focused on functional characters, which represented complex adaptations. Birds were later linked to archosaurian reptiles from around 200 million years ago, and their evolution was seen as gradual, emerging from terrestrial organisms. Recent palaeontological discoveries, particularly from the Maniraptora group, have provided well-preserved fossils, supporting the theory that birds are descendants of dinosaurs. These findings suggest that the emergence of birds from their maniraptoriform ancestors occurred in less than 50 million years. Phylogenetic systematics has helped to map out evolutionary transformations based on homologous traits, but discrepancies in these patterns have led to inconsistencies in cladograms. Meanwhile, studies in morphometrics, genetics, and developmental biology have focused on morphological units, interpreting these units through the lens of modularity and evolutionary integration—concepts also explored in art—to understand the new avian Bauplan.
Scientific and artistic representations in avian evolution
Spanish Journal of Palaeontology (advance online publication)
doi: 10.7203/sjp.30463
This essay explores the relationship between artistic and scientific perspectives in the depiction of birds' formal organization. It highlights how both fields converge in fundamental questions that shape the identity of avian organisms. Historically, early approaches to avian evolution focused on functional characters, which represented complex adaptations. Birds were later linked to archosaurian reptiles from around 200 million years ago, and their evolution was seen as gradual, emerging from terrestrial organisms. Recent palaeontological discoveries, particularly from the Maniraptora group, have provided well-preserved fossils, supporting the theory that birds are descendants of dinosaurs. These findings suggest that the emergence of birds from their maniraptoriform ancestors occurred in less than 50 million years. Phylogenetic systematics has helped to map out evolutionary transformations based on homologous traits, but discrepancies in these patterns have led to inconsistencies in cladograms. Meanwhile, studies in morphometrics, genetics, and developmental biology have focused on morphological units, interpreting these units through the lens of modularity and evolutionary integration—concepts also explored in art—to understand the new avian Bauplan.
