Xiaotingia's proximity places it near the foundational split of which clade encompassing birds and dinosaurs more closely related to birds than Ornithomimosaurs?
Answer
Paraves
Xiaotingia is positioned in the evolutionary map near the foundational split of the Paraves clade. Paraves is defined as the group that includes birds and all dinosaurs that are considered more closely related to birds than they are to the Ornithomimosaurs. Its placement near this critical divergence point strongly implies that Xiaotingia retained many ancestral characteristics that were present in the common ancestor shared by birds and their immediate dinosaur relatives, highlighting its role as a transitional form.
Related Questions
What specific geological age characterized the Late Jurassic epoch when Xiaotingia zhengi existed?In which present-day Chinese province were the remains of Xiaotingia zhengi unearthed?Within which major clade is Xiaotingia specifically nested, placing it among the most bird-like dinosaurs?What characteristic leg bone proportion in Xiaotingia suggests an adaptation for running speed?Which family do some modern phylogenetic studies suggest Xiaotingia belongs within or directly alongside, grouping it with Anchiornis?What is the catalog designation for the holotype specimen of Xiaotingia zhengi used by scientists?How does the tail length of Xiaotingia generally compare to many other theropods of a similar evolutionary grade?Xiaotingia's proximity places it near the foundational split of which clade encompassing birds and dinosaurs more closely related to birds than Ornithomimosaurs?What complexity regarding trait acquisition does the placement of Xiaotingia suggest about features considered 'advanced' for bird origins?What does the significance of Xiaotingia lie more in, concerning its contribution to evolutionary studies?