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

恐爪龙是一种食肉兽脚亚目恐龙，在1.4亿年前进化而来。这一类群由镰刀爪龙科（迅猛龙及其近亲）和齿龙科组成，根据它们的颅骨解剖结构和脑壳相对于身体大小的大小，许多人认为它们是最聪明的恐龙。恐爪龙通常被认为是鸟类的近亲，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大量的新材料的Dromaeosauridae和原始Troodontidae的新标本，它们仍然有骨头附着在关节处。这些新发现的中国和蒙古的驰龙类和穴居类显示了原始和高级特征的有趣嵌合，并提出了关于恐爪龙与鸟类进化关系的几个问题。这项研究将包括对70多只恐龙的全面分析，从而得出该群体的进化树。对恐爪龙的进化关系和特征变化的研究将有助于揭示现代鸟类飞行的起源和进化。研究结果将通过在专业学会会议上的介绍、纳入课程课程和博物馆展览以及通过公开讲座向公众和科学界广泛传播。

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.