Maniraptora
Reconstructed hand bones of Dromaeosaurus in Muséum national d' Histoire naturelle in Paris
- Worldwide
The Maniraptora ( = ' hand Thieves " ) are a group of dinosaurs that advanced Coelurosaurier and include the birds ( Aves). They are characterized by a special crescent -shaped bone of the wrist. Thus, a higher mobility of the hand was achieved, which was an important step to the mobility required for the flight of birds. Also, the spring developed within the Maniraptora on.
The Maniraptora the Mesozoic were small and medium-sized animals that had the largest dinosaurs for brains in comparison to body size. They are considered intelligent and agile predators.
Inside systematics
A model of the inner scheme of the Maniraptora according to a recent study are the following cladogram again:
Therizinosauroidea
Alvarezsauridae
Oviraptorosauria
Troodontidae
Dromaeosauridae
Avialae (birds in the wider sense )
See also:
- Feathered dinosaurs
- Microraptor