Evidence presented on this site is overwhelmingly in favor of birds being the descendants of a maniraptoran dinosaur, probably something similar (but not identical) to a small dromaeosaur. Dr. Jacques Gauthier created the first well-accepted, detailed phylogeny of the diapsids. His work provided strong, compelling support for the theory that birds are theropod dinosaurs. The development of the theory is traced and a list of twenty major skeletal characteristics the first birds shared with many coelurosaurian dinosaurs is included. The site contains many active links for further study.
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