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Article: Flight reconstruction of two European enantiornithines (Aves, Pygostylia) and the achievement of bounding flight in Early Cretaceous birds

Palaeontology Cover Image - Volume 61 Part 3
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 61
Part: 3
Publication Date: May 2018
Page(s): 359 368
Author(s): Francisco J. Serrano, Luis M. Chiappe, Paul Palmqvist, Borja Figueirido, Jesús Marugán‐Lobón, and José L. Sanz
Addition Information

How to Cite

SERRANO, F.J., CHIAPPE, L.M., PALMQVIST, P., FIGUEIRIDO, B., MARUGáN‐LOBóN, J., SANZ, J.L. 2018. Flight reconstruction of two European enantiornithines (Aves, Pygostylia) and the achievement of bounding flight in Early Cretaceous birds . Palaeontology, 61, 3, 359-368. DOI: 10.1111/pala.12351

Author Information

  • Francisco J. Serrano - The Dinosaur Institute Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90007 USA
  • Francisco J. Serrano - Fundación Sierra Elvira 139 Av. de Andalucía Atarfe 18230 Granada Spain
  • Francisco J. Serrano - Departamento de Ecología y Geología Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Málaga Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n. Málaga 29071 Spain
  • Luis M. Chiappe - The Dinosaur Institute Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90007 USA
  • Paul Palmqvist - Departamento de Ecología y Geología Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Málaga Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n. Málaga 29071 Spain
  • Borja Figueirido - Departamento de Ecología y Geología Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Málaga Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n. Málaga 29071 Spain
  • Jesús Marugán‐Lobón - The Dinosaur Institute Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90007 USA
  • Jesús Marugán‐Lobón - Unidad de Paleontología Departamento de Biología Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Autónoma de Madrid C/Darwin 2, Cantoblanco Madrid 28049 Spain
  • José L. Sanz - Unidad de Paleontología Departamento de Biología Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Autónoma de Madrid C/Darwin 2, Cantoblanco Madrid 28049 Spain

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 19 April 2018
  • Manuscript Accepted: 05 January 2018
  • Manuscript Received: 09 October 2017

Funded By

Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Grant Numbers: CGL2013‐42643‐P, CGL2015‐68300‐P, CGL2016‐78577‐P

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library (Free Access)
Get Article: Wiley Online Library [Free Access]

Abstract

Intermittent flight through flap‐gliding (alternating flapping phases and gliding phases with spread wings) or bounding (flapping and ballistic phases with wings folded against the body) are strategies to optimize aerial efficiency which are commonly used among small birds today. The broad morphological disparity of Mesozoic birds suggests that a range of aerial strategies could have evolved early in avian evolution. Based on biomechanics and aerodynamic theory, this study reconstructs the flight modes of two small enantiornithines from the Lower Cretaceous fossil site of Las Hoyas (Spain): Concornis lacustris and Eoalulavis hoyasi. Our results show that the short length of their wings in relation to their body masses were suitable for flying through strict flapping and intermittent bounds, but not through facultative glides. Aerodynamic models indicate that the power margins of these birds were sufficient to sustain bounding flight. Our results thus suggest that C. lacustris and E. hoyasi would have increased aerial efficiency through bounding flight, just as many small passerines and woodpeckers do today. Intermittent bounding appears to have evolved early in the evolutionary history of birds, at least 126 million years ago.

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