RT Journal Article
T1 Aerodynamic modelling of a Cretaceous bird reveals thermal soaring capabilities during early avian evolution
A1 Serrano, Francisco José
A1 Chiappe, Luis M.
K1 Aves - Evolución
AB Several flight modes are thought to have evolved during the early evolution of birds. Here, we use a combination of computational modelling and morphofunctional analyses to infer the flight properties of the raven-sized, Early Cretaceous bird Sapeornis chaoyangensis-a likely candidate to have evolved soaring capabilities. Specifically, drawing information from (i) mechanical inferences of the deltopectoral crest of the humerus, (ii) wing shape (i.e. aspect ratio), (iii) estimations of power margin (i.e. difference between power required for flight and available power from muscles), (iv) gliding behaviour (i.e. forward speed and sinking speed), and (v) palaeobiological evidence, we conclude that S. chaoyangensis was a thermal soarer with an ecology similar to that of living South American screamers. Our results indicate that as early as 125 Ma, some birds evolved the morphological and aerodynamic requirements for soaring on continental thermals, a conclusion that highlights the degree of ecological, functional and behavioural diversity that resulted from the first major evolutionary radiation of birds.
YR 2017
FD 2017-07
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10630/32903
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10630/32903
LA eng
NO Serrano and Chiappe (2017). Journal of the Royal Society Interface 14: 20170182
DS RIUMA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga
RD 21 ene 2026