Yes, Birds Really Are Dinosaurs

After reading the article ”Are Bird Really Dinosaurs?”, I have come to realize that yes, modern day birds are the dinosaurs of our time. Paleontologists have determined that birds are avian dinosaurs and that birds have technically been categorized as reptiles. Birds are descendants of a maniraptoran dinosaur, much like a dromaeosaur. 

The evidence to this statement is overwhelming. Even as early as the 16^th century, biologists observed the incredible similarities between birds and “traditional” reptiles. In 1860, a fossil of an Archaeopteryx lithographica was found in Germany. The find was later deemed the “London specimen” and is a fantastic example of the evolutionary transition from traditional reptiles to birds. The Archaeopteryx is considered to be the oldest known bird. Ratite birds (kiwis, ostriches and emus) are extremely similar to theropod dinosaurs. In addition to that, the reptilian features of birds are numerous. Birds have scales on their feet and their feathers are produced by tissues similar to those of scales. Also, they lay eggs and have similar internal organs. Other similarities include: large orbits, elongated arms, forelimbs and clawed hands and hollow, thin-walled bones although there are a multitude of others. 

Some biologists disagree with this theory, although it is obvious that the evidence is too strong to properly dispute. Many of them claim that the gap in fossil record between the early Cretaceous and late Jurassic periods is too big to make any assumptions. Also, they note on the differences in anatomy which could all be related back to evolution. However, this does not disprove the idea of common ancestry. Also, there are no other possible avian ancestors to fill this void. Others argue that dinosaurs did not have feathers even though there is no evidence to prove or disprove that statement.

Overall, I am a strong believer in the idea that birds are modern-day dinosaurs. Although natural selection may have caused them to over time to become smaller and perhaps behave differently than their ancestors, there is no way to successfully challenge this explanation. Birds that live today have had over 150 million years to adapt and migrate, it is obvious that natural selection would have occurred. Features that birds have today most likely were not there, or were different 150 million years ago which shows clearly evolution in progress. However, the links between dinosaurs and birds are so numerous and strong that I think it is logical and likely that they share common ancestry.