Phylogenetically vetted and stratigraphically constrained fossil calibrations within Aves

Daniel Ksepka and Julia Clarke

Plain Language Abstract

Understanding the timing of evolutionary events requires information from the fossil record. Scientists can combine the ages of fossils with DNA data to figure out how long ago two species split from one another (a branching event on the tree of life).

This paper presents a set of fossil bird specimens that are useful for dating events in DNA-based evolutionary trees. For each fossil we review the evidence in the rock record for the age, the features of the skeleton that tell us what group of birds it belongs to, and the branch that it occupies.

Resumen en Español

text

Traducción: Enrique Peñalver

Résumé en Français

Text

Translator: Kenny J. Travouillon

Deutsche Zusammenfassung

In progress

Translator: Eva Gebauer

Arabic

in progress

Translator: Ashraf M.T. Elewa