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Using a Comparative Species Approach to Investigate the Neurobiology of Paternal Responses

Using a Comparative Species Approach to Investigate the Neurobiology of Paternal Responses

Published on: September 19, 2011

Avian paternal care had dinosaur origin.

David J Varricchio¹, Jason R Moore, Gregory M Erickson

¹Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. djv@montana.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|December 20, 2008

Summary

Dinosaur fossils suggest paternal care in Cretaceous troodontids and oviraptorids. This behavior, indicated by large egg clutch volumes and adult bone histology, likely evolved before birds emerged, representing their ancestral condition.

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Area of Science:

Paleontology
Evolutionary Biology
Reproductive Biology

Background:

Fossil discoveries of adult dinosaurs with egg clutches prompt questions about parental care in extinct species.
Understanding parental care in non-avian dinosaurs can illuminate the evolution of reproductive strategies in archosaurs.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate parental care behaviors in Cretaceous troodontid and oviraptorid dinosaurs.
To compare reproductive strategies of these dinosaurs with extant archosaurs and birds.

Main Methods:

Analysis of dinosaur egg clutch volumes.
Examination of bone histology in adult brooding dinosaurs.
Comparison of findings with established regressions for archosaur parental care.

Main Results:

Troodontid and oviraptorid clutch volumes align most closely with a paternal care model seen in birds.
Brooding adult dinosaurs lacked histological markers of maternal care common in extant archosaurs.
Reproductive features and large clutch sizes suggest paternal care, potentially in a polygamous system.

Conclusions:

Paternal care was present in both troodontids and oviraptorids, indicating its evolution predates birds.
This suggests paternal care is the ancestral condition for birds.
Parental care systems in dinosaurs provide insights into the evolution of avian reproductive behaviors.