The DOI matches its Crossref record; 20 of the 20 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Evidence from Claw Geometry Indicating Arboreal Habits of Archaeopteryx
Abstract
The Late Jurassic Archaeopteryx has been thought to have been a feathered predator adapted to running that represented a terrestrial stage in the evolution of true birds from coelurosaurian dinosaurs. Examination of claw geometry, however, shows that (i) modern ground- and tree-dwelling birds can be distinguished on the basis of claw curvature, in that greater claw arcs characterize tree-dwellers and trunk-climbers, and (ii) the claws of the pes (hind foot) and manus (front hand) of Archaeopteryx exhibit degrees of curvature typical of perching and trunk-climbing birds, respectively. On this basis, Archaeopteryx appears to have been a perching bird, not a cursorial predator.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Analyses of pedal claw curvature lack consensus, which may at least partially reflect differences in how curvature is quantified.”
From The ecology of Archaeopteryx (2026) · cites this paper as [68]
Citations
Cites
Exaptation—a missing term in the science of form
Gould, S. J., & Vrba, E. S. (1982) · Paleobiology · doi:10.1017/s0094837300004310 · Cited by 5,136
Norberg, U. M. L. (1990) · Zoophysiology · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-83848-4 · Cited by 625
The Origin of Birds and the Evolution of Flight
Gauthier, J. A., & Padian, K. (1989) · Short Courses in Paleontology · doi:10.1017/s247526300000091x · Cited by 330
Archaeopteryx and the Origin of Flight
Ostrom, J. H. (1974) · The Quarterly Review of Biology · doi:10.1086/407902 · Cited by 253
Funktionell-anatomische Untersuchungen am Vogelflügel
Sy, M. (1936) · Journal für Ornithologie · doi:10.1007/bf01906709 · Cited by 210
ADAPTIVE EVOLUTION IN THE AVIAN WING
Savile, O. B. O. (1957) · Evolution · doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1957.tb02889.x · Cited by 162
Early Evolution of Avian Flight and Perching: New Evidence from the Lower Cretaceous of China
Sereno, P. C., & Chenggang, R. (1992) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.255.5046.845 · Cited by 159
Gregor, H. (1988) · Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology · doi:10.1016/0031-0182(88)90149-6 · Cited by 137
(1979) · PubMed · Cited by 112
Feathers of Archaeopteryx : Asymmetric Vanes Indicate Aerodynamic Function
Feduccia, A., & Tordoff, H. B. (1979) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.203.4384.1021 · Cited by 111
Self-citation
Research works printed but not linked: 10
- BRODKORB, P, AVIAN BIOL 1: 19 (1971).
- HEINROTH, O, J ORNITHOL 71: 277 (1923).
- Martin, L. D., Origins of the Higher Groups of Tetrapods: 485 (1991).
- PETERS, D.S., SCI SER NAT HIST MUS 36: 29 (1992).
- Rayner, J. M. V., Biomechanics in Evolution: 183 (1991).
- Rietschel, S., The Beginnings of Birds: 251 (1985).
- Tarsitano, S, The Beginnings of Birds: 319 (1985).
- Thulborn, R. A., The Beginnings of Birds: 81 (1985).
- Witmer, L. M., Origins of the Higher Groups of Tetrapods: 427 (1991).
- Yalden, D. W., The Beginnings of Birds: 91 (1985).
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The origin and evolution of dinosaurs
Sereno, P. C. (1997) · Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences · doi:10.1146/annurev.earth.25.1.435 · Cited by 426
“The shape of the horny claw inArchaeopteryxis also consistent with perching capability (Feduccia 1993), although claw shape alone is insufficient to determine with confidence the primary habitat(s) of a bird (Peters & G¨orgner 1992).”
BackgroundThe smallest known non-avian theropod dinosaur
Xu, X., Zhou, Z., & Wang, X. (2000) · Nature · doi:10.1038/35047056 · Cited by 539
“The nearly completely articulated foot shows features, such as distally positioned digit I, slender and recurved pedal claws, and elongated penultimate phalanges, that are comparable to those of arboreal bird”
BackgroundThe Crato Fossil Beds of Brazil: Window into an Ancient World
Martill, D. M., Bechly, G., & Loveridge, R. F. (2007) · Cited by 339
The origin and early evolution of birds
Padian, K., & Chiappe, L. M. (1998) · Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · doi:10.1111/j.1469-185x.1997.tb00024.x · Cited by 341
The first 85 million years of avian evolution
Chiappe, L. M. (1995) · Nature · doi:10.1038/378349a0 · Cited by 240
Locomotor modules and the evolution of avian flight
Gatesy, S. M., & Dial, K. P. (1996) · Evolution · doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1996.tb04496.x · Cited by 290
The comparative evolution of lizard claw and toe morphology and clinging performance
Zani (2000) · Journal of Evolutionary Biology · doi:10.1046/j.1420-9101.2000.00166.x · Cited by 215
“These specialized traits include hooks or claws (e.g. Richardson, 1943; Bock & Miller, 1959; Feduccia, 1993), adhesive toe pads (e.g. Gillett & Wigglesworth, 1932; Edwards, 1962; Emerson & Diehl, 1980; Russell, 1986) or other adhesive patches of skin (e.g. Pasteur, 1964; Cartmill, 1979; Haffner,…”
BackgroundGetting a grip on tetrapod grasping: form, function, and evolution
Sustaita, D., Pouydebat, E., Manzano, A. S., Abdala, V. S. L., Hertel, F., & Herrel, A. (2013) · Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · doi:10.1111/brv.12010 · Cited by 221
“Claw curvature increases from grounddwelling, to arboreal perching and climbing, to predation (Feduccia, 1993; Pike & Maitland, 2004).”
BackgroundLIVEZEY, & ZUSI (2006) · Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History · doi:10.2992/0145-9058(2006)37[1:pon]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 199
An Early Cretaceous bird from Spain and its implications for the evolution of avian flight
Sanz, J. L., Chiappe, L. M., Pérez-Moreno, B. P., Buscalioni, A. D., Moratalla, J. J., Ortega, F., & Poyato-Ariza, F. J. (1996) · Nature · doi:10.1038/382442a0 · Cited by 175
Zhou, Z. (2004) · Die Naturwissenschaften · doi:10.1007/s00114-004-0570-4 · Cited by 164
“Contrary to Padian and Chiappe’s opinion, interpretations of the climbing ability of Archaeopteryx based on its foot claw morphology (Feduccia 1993; Yalden 1997) have, in fact, provided strong evidence supporting its arboreal habit in addition to hindlimb proportions that are also similar to most…”
BackgroundA beaked bird from the Jurassic of China
Hou, L., Zhou, Z., Martin, L. D., & Feduccia, A. (1995) · Nature · doi:10.1038/377616a0 · Cited by 150
Self-citationScaling and biomechanics of surface attachment in climbing animals
Labonte, D., & Federle, W. (2014) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2014.0027 · Cited by 149
Fowler, D. W., Freedman, E. A., & Scannella, J. B. (2009) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007999 · Cited by 136
Soft Tissue Preservation in Terrestrial Mesozoic Vertebrates
Schweitzer, M. H. (2011) · Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences · doi:10.1146/annurev-earth-040610-133502 · Cited by 134
The Predatory Ecology of Deinonychus and the Origin of Flapping in Birds
Fowler, D. W., Freedman, E. A., Scannella, J. B., & Kambic, R. E. (2011) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0028964 · Cited by 129
The evolutionary continuum of limb function from early theropods to birds
Hutchinson, J. R., & Allen, V. (2009) · Naturwissenschaften · doi:10.1007/s00114-008-0488-3 · Cited by 163
The comparative evolution of lizard claw and toe morphology and clinging performance
Ani, P. A. Z. (2000) · Cited by 122
Phalangeal curvature and positional behavior in extinct sloth lemurs (Primates, Palaeopropithecidae)
Jungers, W. L., Godfrey, L. R., Simons, E. L., & Chatrath, P. S. (1997) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.94.22.11998 · Cited by 107
The interplay between claw morphology and microhabitat use in neotropical iguanian lizards
Tulli, M. J., Cruz, F. B., Herrel, A., Vanhooydonck, B., & Abdala, V. S. L. (2009) · Zoology · doi:10.1016/j.zool.2009.02.001 · Cited by 101
“Some authors (Losos, 1990a, b; Feduccia, 1993; Garland and Losos, 1994; Arnold, 1998; Bonine and Garland, 1999) have shown that locomotor abilities of lizards are reflected in morphology, especially overall limb length.”
BackgroundMultiscale structural gradients enhance the biomechanical functionality of the spider fang
Bar‐On, B., Barth, F. G., Fratzl, P., & Politi, Y. (2014) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms4894 · Cited by 96
Lung Structure and Ventilation in Theropod Dinosaurs and Early Birds
Ruben, J. A., Jones, T. D., Geist, N. R., & Hillenius, W. J. (1997) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.278.5341.1267 · Cited by 92
Variability in osteon size in recent human populations
Pfeiffer, S. (1998) · American Journal of Physical Anthropology · doi:10.1002/(sici)1096-8644(199806)106:2 · Cited by 102
Nesbitt, S. J., Flynn, J. J., Pritchard, A. C., Parrish, J. M., Ranivoharimanana, L., & Wyss, A. R. (2015) · Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History · doi:10.1206/amnb-899-00-1-126.1 · Cited by 95
Quantifying phalangeal curvature: An empirical comparison of alternative methods
Stern, J. T., Jungers, W. L., & Susman, R. L. (1995) · American Journal of Physical Anthropology · doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330970102 · Cited by 87
Tsang, L. R., Wilson, L. A. B., Ledogar, J. A., Wroe, S., Attard, M. R. G., & Sansalone, G. (2019) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43654-0 · Cited by 84
Pike, A. V. L., & Maitland, D. P. (2004) · Journal of Zoology · doi:10.1017/s0952836903004382 · Cited by 81
Pterosaurs of the Crato Formation
Unwin, D. M., & Martill, D. M. (2007) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511535512.018 · Cited by 79
Stick or grip? Co-evolution of adhesive toepads and claws in Anolis lizards
Crandell, K. E., Herrel, A., Sasa, M., Losos, J. B., & Autumn, K. (2014) · Zoology · doi:10.1016/j.zool.2014.05.001 · Cited by 76
“Each character was then compared between groups with a phylogenetically corrected ANOVA One-tailed tests were used in all comparisons, as we had a priori predictions for claw curvature (Feduccia, 1993), claw tip angle (Dai et al., 2002), and claw height and length (Zani, 2000 .”
BackgroundMethodBirn-Jeffery, A. V., Miller, C. E., Naish, D., Rayfield, E. J., & Hone, D. W. E. (2012) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050555 · Cited by 73
Scapular orientation in theropods and basal birds, and the origin of flapping flight
Senter, P. (2006) · Zenodo · doi:10.5281/zenodo.13644023 · Cited by 72
Tall, A. R. (1995) · Journal of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2796.1995.tb01133.x · Cited by 70
Fröbisch, J., & Reisz, R. R. (2009) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.0911 · Cited by 72
James, H. F. (2004) · Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society · doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00117.x · Cited by 67
“Diastema between the maxillary and mandibular rostra, with the jaws in closed position; absent (0), present (1). The drepanidine species Dysmorodrepanis munroi has a most unusual bill shape, in which the maxillary rostrum is strongly hooked and the mandibular rostrum is re-curved, leaving a diastema between the jaws w…”
BackgroundInfluentialOn the origins of birds: the sequence of character acquisition in the evolution of avian flight
Garner, J. P., Taylor, G. K., & Thomas, A. L. R. (1999) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.1999.0772 · Cited by 58
“Indisputable evidence of arboreality does not appear until Iberomesornis, which possesses a fully reversed hallux typical of perching birds (Sereno & Rao 1992; but see Feduccia 1993).”
BackgroundA new Jurassic theropod from China documents a transitional step in the macrostructure of feathers
Lefèvre, U., Cau, A., Cincotta, A., Hu, D., Chinsamy, A., Escuillié, F., & Godefroit, P. (2017) · The Science of Nature · doi:10.1007/s00114-017-1496-y · Cited by 62
Dinosaur killer claws or climbing crampons?
Manning, P. L., Payne, D., Pennicott, J., Barrett, P. M., & Ennos, A. R. (2005) · Biology Letters · doi:10.1098/rsbl.2005.0395 · Cited by 62
Paravian Phylogeny and the Dinosaur-Bird Transition: An Overview
Agnolín, F. L., Motta, M. J., Egli, F. B., Coco, G. L., & Novas, F. E. (2019) · Frontiers in Earth Science · doi:10.3389/feart.2018.00252 · Cited by 63
“In volant neognathans the glenoid is an ovoid cavity oriented mostly in a latero-dorsal direction (Feduccia, 1993).”
BackgroundDececchi, T. A., & Larsson, H. C. E. (2011) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022292 · Cited by 56
Lautenschlager, S. (2014) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.0497 · Cited by 59
Manning, P. L., Margetts, L., Johnson, M. R., Withers, P. J., Sellers, W. I., Falkingham, P. L., Mummery, P., Barrett, P. M., & Raymont, D. R. (2009) · The Anatomical Record · doi:10.1002/ar.20986 · Cited by 57
D’Amore, D. C., Clulow, S., Doody, J. S., Rhind, D., & McHenry, C. R. (2018) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.4185 · Cited by 59
“A shallow- curved claw would be ideal for providing grip as the foot is rotated against substrate when running, as seen in ground birds (Birn- Jeffery et al., 2012; Feduccia, 1993; Glen & Bennett, 2007; Pike & Maitland, 2004).”
BackgroundMethodScaling of claw sharpness: mechanical constraints reduce attachment performance in larger insects
Pattrick, J. G., Labonte, D., & Federle, W. (2018) · Journal of Experimental Biology · doi:10.1242/jeb.188391 · Cited by 56
“…several studies have correlated various aspects of claw morphology, for example claw curvature, with lifestyle or habitat (D’Amore et al., 2018; Feduccia, 1993; Pike and Maitland, 2004; Tulli et al., 2009, 2011; Zani, 2000), these investigations were conducted exclusively in vertebrates, and…”
BackgroundInfluentialThe first giant raptor (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae) from the Hell Creek Formation
DePalma, R. A., Burnham, D. A., Martin, L. D., Larson, P. L., & Bakker, R. T. (2015) · Paleontological Contributions · doi:10.17161/paleo.1808.18764 · Cited by 59
Metamorphic aerial robot capable of mid-air shape morphing for rapid perching
Zheng, P., Xiao, F., Nguyen, P. H., Farinha, A. T., & Kovač, M. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-022-26066-5 · Cited by 49
Miller, C. V., & Pittman, M. (2021) · Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · doi:10.1111/brv.12743 · Cited by 47
A new robust enantiornithine bird from the Lower Cretaceous of China with scansorial adaptations
Wang, M., O'Connor, J. K., & Zhou, Z. (2014) · Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology · doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.812101 · Cited by 45
“Following the method in Feduccia (1993), the inner curvatures of the unguals were measured: those of the claw of the hallux and the second pedal digit measure 186◦ and 170◦, respectively.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialClaramunt, S., Derryberry, E. P., Brumfield, R. T., & Remsen, J. V. (2012) · The American Naturalist · doi:10.1086/664998 · Cited by 50
Yuan, M. S., Wake, M. H., & Wang, I. (2018) · Evolution · doi:10.1111/evo.13673 · Cited by 47
“For instance, tree-climbing and branchperching birds have greater claw curvature than terrestrial species (Feduccia 1993), a pattern that is broadly shared across squamate reptiles as well (Zani 2000; Tulli et al. 2009; D’Amore et al. 2018).”
BackgroundPoints on the curve: An analysis of methods for assessing the shape of vertebrate claws
Tinius, A., & Russell, A. P. (2016) · Journal of Morphology · doi:10.1002/jmor.20625 · Cited by 47
“The claws of arboreal avians are ostensibly more curved than are those of ground-dwelling birds (Feduccia, 1993, Burnham et al., 2011).”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluentialA new species of Microraptor from the Jehol Biota of northeastern China
Gong, E.-P., Martin, L. D., Burnham, D. A., Falk, A. R., & Hou, L. (2012) · Palaeoworld · doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2012.05.003 · Cited by 46
Bryant, H. N., Russell, A. P., Laroiya, R., & Powell, G. L. (1996) · Journal of Morphology · doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-4687(199609)229:3 · Cited by 44
Inferring lifestyle for Aves and Theropoda: A model based on curvatures of extant avian ungual bones
Cobb, S. E., & Sellers, W. I. (2020) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211173 · Cited by 43
“Ventral and dorsal curvatures of the ungual bones (IU, OU) and claw sheaths (IS, OS) were measured according to the methods outlined in Feduccia (1993) and Pike and Maitland (2004).”
MethodForaging modes of Mesozoic birds and non-avian theropods
Glen, C. L., & Bennett, M. B. (2007) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.09.026 · Cited by 46
“(A) In previous studies categorisation of a bird species as either ‘ground-dweller’ or ‘percher’ required summarisation of potentially disparate aspects of behaviour and morphology [2–5,7], with emphasis on the ‘ability/inability’ to perch.”
InfluentialObjects prompt authentic scientific activities among learners in a museum programme
Achiam, M., Simony, L., & Lindow, B. (2016) · International Journal of Science Education · doi:10.1080/09500693.2016.1178869 · Cited by 35
“Archaeopteryx’ manual claws are accordingly interpreted as an indirect indication of its flight capabilities, because they may have allowed the animal to climb trees to reach a suitable height from which to launch itself into flight (Feduccia, 1993) (Table 1, row V).”
BackgroundBirds land reliably on complex surfaces by adapting their foot-surface interactions upon contact
Roderick, W. R. T., Chin, D. D., Cutkosky, M. R., & Lentink, D. (2019) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.46415 · Cited by 40
“, 2013) and claw shape in relation to body size and lifestyle (Pike and Maitland, 1999; Birn-Jeffery et al., 2012; Feduccia, 1993), no in vivo studies quantify toe forces during grasping or how claws actually interact with perch surface features.”
BackgroundConvergent Evolution of Claw Shape in a Transcontinental Lizard Radiation
Baeckens, S., Goeyers, C., & Damme, R. V. (2019) · Integrative and Comparative Biology · doi:10.1093/icb/icz151 · Cited by 44
“…idea that the shape of the claw is a reliable indicator of the ecology of a species (and vice versa) is not particularly novel (e.g., Cartmill 1974; Feduccia 1993), as several studies have provided correlative evidence that particular claw features evolved as an adaptation to the use of a…”
BackgroundInfluentialBird claws and bird of prey talons: Where is the difference?
Csermely, D., & Rossi, O. (2006) · The European Zoological Journal · doi:10.1080/11250000500502368 · Cited by 39
“…of Archaeopteryx lithographica, studied mainly in comparison to modern birds to ascertain whether it was a cursorial or perching bird (Yalden 1985; Peters & Görgner 1992; Feduccia 1993); the only other available source dealing with modern birds is Richardson (1942, quoted by Feduccia 1993).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialMaddin, H. C., & Reisz, R. R. (2007) · Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences · doi:10.1139/e06-076 · Cited by 38
“A substantial body of literature reveals a correlation between claw morphology and habit in extant taxa (Richardson 1942; Yalden 1985; Peters and Görgner 1992; Feduccia 1993).”
BackgroundThe arboreal leaping theory of the origin of pterosaur flight
Bennett, S. C. (1997) · Historical Biology · doi:10.1080/08912969709386566 · Cited by 38
Birds Are Dinosaurs: Simple Answer to a Complex Problem
Feduccia, A. (2002) · The Auk · doi:10.1642/0004-8038(2002)119[1187:badsat]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 41
“…had its pubis pushed back to the opisthopubic position to conform to the most current view of dromaeosaurs and is often depicted as a terrestrial predator, with a sickle claw (Paul 2002), despite evidence that Archaeopteryx was arboreal (Feduccia 1993), and clearly did not possess such a claw.”
Self-citationA carinate bird from the Upper Jurassic of western Liaoning, China
Hou, L. (1997) · Chinese Science Bulletin · doi:10.1007/bf02884235 · Cited by 36
Hedrick, B. P., Cordero, S. A., Zanno, L. E., Noto, C. R., & Dodson, P. (2019) · Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1002/ece3.5507 · Cited by 35
“…relationship has most often been used for predicting the ecology of extinct taxa using the claw morphology of extant taxa (Birn‐Jeffery, Miller, Naish, Rayfield, & Hone, 2012; Feduccia, 1993; Fowler, Freedman, & Scannella, 2009; Fowler, Freedman, Scannella, & Kambic, 2011; Glen & Bennett, 2007).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialHemert, C. R. V., Handel, C. M., Blake, J. E., Swor, R., & O’Hara, T. M. (2011) · Journal of Morphology · doi:10.1002/jmor.11023 · Cited by 34
“Claws have been the subject of extensive study for their proposed role in evolution of flight (Yalden, 1985; Feduccia, 1993; Glen and Bennett, 2007).”
BackgroundFontanarrosa, G., Daza, J. D., & Abdala, V. S. L. (2017) · Cretaceous Research · doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2017.11.003 · Cited by 34
Pittman, M., Bell, P. R., Miller, C. V., Enriquez, N. J., Wang, X., Zheng, X., Tsang, L. R., Tse, Y. T., Landes, M., & Kaye, T. G. (2022) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-022-35039-1 · Cited by 34
Miller, C. V., Pittman, M., Wang, X., Zheng, X., & Bright, J. A. (2022) · BMC Biology · doi:10.1186/s12915-022-01294-3 · Cited by 30
Tree climbing – a fundamental avian adaptation
Burnham, D. A., Feduccia, A., Martin, L. D., & Falk, A. R. (2011) · Journal of Systematic Palaeontology · doi:10.1080/14772019.2010.522201 · Cited by 33
“The manual claws of Microraptor showed the highest degree of known claw curvature, exceeding all values from previously published data (Peters & Görgner 1992; Feduccia 1993; Fowler et al. 2009).”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluentialSelf-citationFoot design and integration for bioinspired climbing robots
Spenko, M. J., Cutkosky, M. R., Majidi, C., Fearing, R. S., Groff, R. E., & Autumn, K. (2006) · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · doi:10.1117/12.665874 · Cited by 32
“[13-15]), there are relatively few studies on the mechanics of claw function (e.”
BackgroundChatterjee, S., & Templin, R. J. (2003) · Naturwissenschaften · doi:10.1007/s00114-002-0385-0 · Cited by 32
“Lacking a modern avian SC pulley, Archaeopteryx could not rotate the humerus in this fashion, which would restrict its ability to flap its wings rapidly, an action necessary during slow flight, takeoff, and landing (Feduccia 1993).”
BackgroundInfluentialLombardo, M. P., Thorpe, P. A., Brown, B. M., & Sian, K. (2008) · The Anatomical Record · doi:10.1002/ar.20769 · Cited by 31
“Archaeopteryx lithographica, the oldest recognized bird in the fossil record, had anisodactyl feet with characteristics that suggest that they were primarily used for perching (Feduccia, 1993).”
BackgroundThe finer points of urban adaptation: intraspecific variation in lizard claw morphology
Falvey, C. H., Avilés‐Rodríguez, K. J., Hagey, T. J., & Winchell, K. M. (2020) · Biological Journal of the Linnean Society · doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blaa123 · Cited by 30
“These approximations have been used to characterize dinosaur habitat use as terrestrial or arboreal based on claw morphology alone (e.g. Feduccia, 1993).”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialPredatory digging behavior by dinosaurs
Simpson, E. L., Hilbert-Wolf, H. L., Wizevich, M. C., Tindall, S. E., Fasinski, B. R., Storm, L. P., & Needle, M. D. (2010) · Geology · doi:10.1130/g31019.1 · Cited by 29
Hoatzin nestling locomotion: Acquisition of quadrupedal limb coordination in birds
Abourachid, A., Herrel, A., Décamps, T., Pagès, F., Fabre, A., Hoorebeke, L. V., Adriaens, D., & García-Amado, M. A. (2019) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.aat0787 · Cited by 28
Thomson, T. J., & Motani, R. (2021) · Journal of Morphology · doi:10.1002/jmor.21317 · Cited by 28
“However, unlike Feduccia (1993), the flexor tubercle and its associated fleshy toe pad are excluded from the measurement process used by us in order to avoid the introduction of unwanted variation imposed by the soft tissue (Tinius & Russell, 2017).”
MethodYuan, M. S., Jung, C., Wake, M. H., & Wang, I. (2019) · Biological Journal of the Linnean Society · doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blz203 · Cited by 27
Pollock, T. I., Panagiotopoulou, O., Hocking, D. P., & Evans, A. R. (2022) · Royal Society Open Science · doi:10.1098/rsos.220701 · Cited by 26
Zhang, Z.-H., Gao, C.-L., Meng, Q.-J., Liu, J.-Y., Hou, L., & Zheng, G.-M. (2009) · Journal of Ornithology · doi:10.1007/s10336-009-0399-x · Cited by 22
“Such an interpretation is also supported by its large reversed hallux and sharp curved, laterally compressed claws (Yalden 1985; Feduccia 1993; Griffiths 1993).”
BackgroundPfingstl, T., Kerschbaumer, M., & Shimano, S. (2020) · PeerJ · doi:10.7717/peerj.8488 · Cited by 23
“Accordingly, greater claw height is considered indicative of vertical climbers, as for example, in lizards and birds (Feduccia, 1993; Crandell et al., 2014; Ribas et al., 2004; Tulli et al., 2009).”
BackgroundPhysical theory, origin of flight, and a synthesis proposed for birds
Long, C. A., Zhang, G., George, T. F., & Long, C. F. (2003) · Journal of Theoretical Biology · doi:10.1016/s0022-5193(03)00116-4 · Cited by 22
Mann, A., Dudgeon, T. W., Henrici, A. C., Berman, D. S., & Pierce, S. E. (2021) · Frontiers in Earth Science · doi:10.3389/feart.2021.675337 · Cited by 22
Comparison of claw geometrical characteristics among birds of prey and non-raptorial birds
Csermely, D., Rossi, O., & Nasi, F. (2012) · The European Zoological Journal · doi:10.1080/11250003.2012.663003 · Cited by 19
“Archaeopteryx lithographica, and extant species (Yalden 1985; Peters & Görgner 1992; Feduccia 1993), trying to find indications of whether the former was a cursorial or perching bird, and the ability to fly of fossil species during the transition from non-avian theropods to birds.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialJerison, H. J. (1994) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-092668-1.50009-0 · Cited by 22
Labadie, L. V., & Palmer, A. R. (1996) · Journal of Zoology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05314.x · Cited by 22
Evidence of the former existence of an endemic macaw in Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles
Gala, M., & Lenoble, A. (2015) · Journal für Ornithologie · doi:10.1007/s10336-015-1221-6 · Cited by 20
The wingtips of the pterosaurs: Anatomy, aeronautical function and ecological implications
Hone, D. W. E., Rooijen, M. K. V., & Habib, M. B. (2015) · Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology · doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.08.046 · Cited by 20
“More specific details of curvature (such as those sometimes employed to look at claws — e.g. Feduccia, 1993; Birn-Jeffrey et al., 2012) are not elucidated by our simplifiedmetric, and we therefore do not make fine scale differentiations in phalanx curvature or shape in this analysis.”
BackgroundGravity-defying Behaviors: Identifying Models for Protoaves
Geist, N. R., & Feduccia, A. (2000) · American Zoologist · doi:10.1093/icb/40.4.664 · Cited by 18
Self-citationPalmer, C. F. (2014) · Biological Journal of the Linnean Society · doi:10.1111/bij.12328 · Cited by 16
“, 2013) or whether flight originates in cursorial (Ostrom, 1986; Burgers & Chiappe, 1999; Dial, 2003a, b; Dial, Randall & Dial, 2006; Dial, Jackson & Segre, 2008) or arboreal animals (Bock, 1986; Feduccia, 1993; Padian, 2001; Zhou, 2004; Dudley & Yanoviak, 2011) – the so-called ground up or trees down debate.”
First report of dinosaurian claws from the Late Triassic of India
Rakshit, N., Bhat, M. S., Ray, S., & Datta, P. M. (2018) · Palaeoworld · doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2018.01.001 · Cited by 18
Perspectives in Ornithology Archaeopteryx 2007: Quo Vadis?
Feduccia, A., Martin, L. D., & Tarsitano, S. (2007) · The Auk · doi:10.1093/auk/124.2.373 · Cited by 16
“…From: https://bioone.org/journals/The-Auk on 13 Feb 2020 Terms of Use: https://bioone.org/terms-of-use Downloaded From: https://bioone.org/journals/The-Auk on 13 Feb 2020 Terms of Use: https://bioone.org/terms-of-use (Feduccia 1993, Jungers et al. 1997), was ignored by Mayr et al. (2005, 2007).”
BackgroundSelf-citationQin, Z., Liao, C.-C., Benton, M. J., & Rayfield, E. J. (2023) · Communications Biology · doi:10.1038/s42003-023-04552-4 · Cited by 16
Becerra, M. G., Pol, D., Rauhut, O. W. M., & Cerda, I. A. (2016) · Journal of Paleontology · doi:10.1017/jpa.2016.24 · Cited by 16
“Among extinct taxa, MPEF_PV 3826 shares the morphospace with confuciusornithids, and is close to Microraptor and archaeopterygids, which have been considered as species with arboreal habits by some authors (Feduccia, 1993; Hopson, 2001).”
BackgroundKerschbaumer, M., & Pfingstl, T. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-83747-3 · Cited by 15
Palaeoecology, Aerodynamics, and the Origin of Avian Flight
Chatterjee, S., & Templin, R. J. (2012) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-90-481-3428-1_18 · Cited by 15
Morphological convergence in conifer-dwelling passerines
Korner‐Nievergelt, F., & Leisler, B. (2004) · Journal für Ornithologie · doi:10.1007/s10336-004-0027-8 · Cited by 14
Rausch, R. L. (2003) · Comparative Parasitology · doi:10.1654/1525-2647(2003)070[0001:tpnsft]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 14
“Arcs of blades of some hooks were compared by the method of Feduccia (1993).”
MethodConvergent Evolution of Manual and Pedal Grasping Capabilities in Tetrapods
Pouydebat, E., Boulinguez‐Ambroise, G., Manzano, A. S., Abdala, V. S. L., & Sustaita, D. (2023) · Fascinating life sciences · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-11441-0_12 · Cited by 16
Bell, A., Marugán‐Lobón, J., Navalón, G., Nebreda, S. M., DiGuildo, J., & Chiappe, L. M. (2021) · Frontiers in Earth Science · doi:10.3389/feart.2021.663342 · Cited by 11
“Other studies have expanded on Feduccia ’ s work by examining the scaling relationship of body mass with pedal claw shape, fi nding that while claw size appears to scale geometrically with body mass in most birds, the degree of overlap among most ecological groups made assigning speci fi c ecological niches to fossil bi…”
BackgroundResultInfluentialBuffa, V., Frey, E. D., Steyer, J., & Laurin, M. (2022) · Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology · doi:10.1080/02724634.2022.2108713 · Cited by 12
“Such claws are commonly used to infer an arboreal lifestyle in extinct and extant taxa (Feduccia, 1993; Spielmann et al., 2005, 2006; Fröbisch and Reisz, 2009; Birn-Jeffrey et al., 2012; Simões et al., 2015, 2017; Jenkins et al., 2020).”
BackgroundDesign of flying robots inspired by the evolution of avian flight
Shahid, F., Zhao, J., & Godefroit, P. (2019) · Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part C Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science · doi:10.1177/0954406219861995 · Cited by 11
“The manual and pedal claws of Microraptor were elongated, curved and had pointed tip, resembling those in extant climbing animals (woodpeckers) and perching birds.(32,47) The small size and other structural features of Microraptor are also compatible with arboreal habits, but further evidence, including the constructi…”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Feduccia, A.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Corresponding author
- Feduccia, Alan
- ORCID
- Feduccia, Alan
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1993-02-05
- Volume
- 259
- Issue
- 5096
- Pages
- 790-793
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2037267175
- Cited by
- 156
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 6.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Fossil Insects in Amber
- Keywords
- Archaeopteryx, arboreal behavior, Passeriformes, avian evolution, Late Jurassic
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
