Abstract
Evolutionary Biology As birds evolved, most lost the claws that characterize the wings of Archaeopteryx , a dinosaur from the evolutionary transition point between nonavian and avian dinosaurs. Curiously, hatchlings of the hoatzin ( Opisthocomus hoazin ) have similar claws on their wings but lose them by adulthood. Abourachid et al. observed the swimming and climbing movements of four fledgling hoatzins. While swimming, the chicks exhibited a synchronized motion of their wings like that of modern birds. However, the chicks climbed with the help of their claws using an alternating motion. This seeming reappearance of an ancient trait suggests greater plasticity in bird evolution than previously thought. Sci. Adv. 10.1126/sciadv.aat0787 (2019).
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