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If dinosaurs went extinct, where did birds come from? Kayden S., 9, Wylie, Texas
Everyone knows what a bird is, and almost everyone knows what a dinosaur is. But not everyone realizes this birds evolved from dinosaurs approximately 160 million years ago.
In fact, birds and dinosaurs lived together for about 100 million years. Birds descended from a special group of dinosaurs called dromaeosaurs, or “running lizards,” which were a family of feathered theropods or dinosaurs with “beast-like legs” that included Velociraptor.
But when An asteroid fell to Earth 66 million years ago off the coast of what is now Mexico. dinosaurs went extinct – but some birds remained. You may wonder why.
Acting like detectives, scientists who specialize in bird evolution are trying to figure out why birds weren't wiped out either. They piece together clues such as fossils and other evidence of life on Earth in ancient times. At the moment, scientists have assumptions about why the birds survived, but there is no definite answer.
Pros of being toothless
Today's birds have no teeth. Instead, they have beaks or beaks that come in different shapes and sizes for eating and drinking. But some of Birds that lived during the time of dinosaurs actually had teeth. Others didn't.
Ichthyornis dispar – a primitive seabird with teeth that lived at the end of the Cretaceous period – from 100 to 66 million years ago – in North America. Courtesy of Michael Hanson and Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar.
After an asteroid hit the Earth a long time ago, all birds with teeth became extinct. But many of the toothless continued to live. Some scientists believe the absence of teeth allowed these birds to survive.
Fossils of early toothless birds show they were able to eat more plant foods – especially nuts, fruits and seeds. This meant that they relied less on eating other animals than birds with teeth. Some scientists believe this difference in diet was a big advantage after the asteroid impact.
When the asteroid collided with the Earth, it immediately caused strong tsunamis and earthquakes. The giant thermal pulse from the impact caused huge forest fires near the site of the asteroid's impact. In the following months, huge amounts of dust filled the layer of air surrounding the Earth. He blocked out the sun, making less light available for plant growth.
Animals that ate plants had much less food. Many of them became extinct, which was a disaster for the animals that ate them.
With many animal species becoming extinct and plants struggling to get enough sunlight, if you were a bird, it would be difficult to find food. But if you could peck through the soil and find buried seeds or nuts to eat, it could make a big difference in your life. ability to survive as a species.
How science works
Of course, it is possible that toothless birds managed to survive while their toothed relatives died, and that was due to luck.
At the moment this is a mystery to which there is no clear answer. This is how science works. Scientists formulate ideas or hypotheses using existing knowledge and information. They then test their ideas, either by conducting experiments or collecting additional evidence. This information either confirms or refutes their ideas.
So scientists studying bird evolution are poised to reconsider the story of how birds came to be and dinosaurs didn't, as they gather more information from rocks, fossils and ancient DNA.
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This article has been republished from Talka nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trusted analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. He was written by: Chris Lituma, West Virginia University
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Chris Lituma does not work for, consult, own shares in, or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations other than his academic position.
