What animals did dinosaurs evolve into?

Dinosaurs primarily evolved into modern birds. Birds are considered the only surviving group of theropod dinosaurs, specifically from a lineage called maniraptorans, which includes well-known species like Velociraptor. This evolutionary transition began in the Mesozoic Era, with many traits characteristic of birds, such as feathers, hollow bones, and high metabolic rates, already present in their dinosaur ancestors.

Key evolutionary steps in this transition include:

1. Feathers: Initially evolved for insulation or display, feathers became crucial for flight in the ancestors of birds.

2. Skeletal changes: Many theropod dinosaurs exhibited lightweight, bird-like skeletons, including a wishbone (furcula), three-fingered hands, and adaptations for bipedalism.

3. Flight: The gradual development of wings and flight-capable structures allowed some small theropods to take to the skies, leading to the early birds such as Archaeopteryx.

In essence, birds are living dinosaurs, descendants of the theropod lineage, and they carry many of the same biological traits as their ancient relatives.

animal tags： Dinosaur