Table of Contents

Introduction.-
Institutional abbreviations.-
Comparison: general information about the main taxa to be compared in the present paper.-
Phylogenetic analysis: review of available phylogenetic hypotheses about the origin of birds, discussing their respective logical bases and discussion of characters used for their support.-
Systematic Paleontology: systematic arrangement.-
Discussion.-

Evolution of feathers and wings among basal paravians.-
Osteological and integumental modifications related to the origin of flight.-
Body size increase and loss of flying capabilities among paravians.-
Independent origin of flying capabilities among paravians.-
Averaptoran radiation and center of origin of birds.-
Bibliography.-
Character list.

About the Author

Fernando Emilio Novas is an Argentine paleontologist working for the Comparative Anatomy Department of the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural History Argentine Museum in Buenos Aires. Novas holds a PhD in Natural sciences. Working for the CONICET, he described or co-described many dinosaurs, among them Abelisaurus, Aniksosaurus, Aragosaurus, Austroraptor, Megaraptor, Neuquenraptor, Orkoraptor, Patagonykus, Unenlagia, Araucanoraptor, Skorpiovenator, Tyrannotitan, Talenkauen, and Puertasaurus, most from the Patagonia region of Argentina.