DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Dromaeosaurid Phylogeny, Deinonychosaurian Monophyly, and the Sister Group to Birds

恐爪龙是一组食肉兽脚类恐龙，进化超过1.4亿年前。这类恐龙包括镰爪驰龙科（速龙和它的近亲）和伤齿龙科，许多人认为它们是最聪明的恐龙，因为它们的头骨解剖结构和相对于身体大小的脑壳大小。 恐爪龙通常被认为是最接近鸟类的动物，基于许多形态和行为特征。 作为该项目的一部分，研究人员将描述和说明驰龙科丰富的新材料和原始Troodontidae的新标本的形态，这些标本仍然在关节处附着骨骼。这些新发现的中国和蒙古驰龙科和伤齿龙类显示出有趣的原始和先进特征的马赛克，并提出了几个问题，恐爪龙类和鸟类之间的进化关系。这项研究将包括对70多种恐龙的全面分析，从而为该群体绘制出进化树。 对恐爪龙类的进化关系和特征变化的研究将有助于阐明现代鸟类飞行的起源和进化。 研究结果将通过在专业协会会议上的介绍、纳入课程和博物馆展览以及通过公开讲座广泛传播给公众和科学界。

The Deinonychosauria is the group of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs that evolved over 140 million years ago. The group consists of the sickle-clawed Dromaeosauridae (Velociraptor and its kin) and Troodontidae, which many consider the most intelligent of dinosaurs based on their cranial anatomy and size of their braincase relative to their body size. Deinonychosaurs are generally regarded as the closest relative to birds based on numerous morphological and behavioral characteristics. As part of this project, the researchers will describe and illustrate the morphology of abundant new material of Dromaeosauridae and new specimens of primitive Troodontidae, which still have their bones attached at the joints. These newly discovered Chinese and Mongolian dromaeosaurids and troodontids display interesting mosaics of primitive and advanced traits and raise several issues concerning evolutionary relationships among deinonychosaurs and birds. This study will include a comprehensive analysis of over 70 dinosaurs that will result in an evolutionary tree for the group. The study of the evolutionary relationships and character change within the Deinonychosauria will shed light on the origin and evolution of flight within modern birds. The results will be broadly disseminated to the public and scientific communities through presentations at professional society meetings, incorporation into course curriculum and museum exhibitions, and through public lectures.