The most basal avians Archaeopteryx and Jeholornis have elongate reptilian tails. However,
all other birds (Pygostylia) have an abbreviated tail that ends in a fused element called the …

The transformation from a long reptilian tail to a shortened tail ending in a pygostyle and
accompanied by aerodynamic fanning rectrices is one of the most remarkable adaptations of …

Several stem birds, such as Confuciusornithidae and Enantiornithes, were characterized by
the possession of one or two pairs of conspicuous, elongated tail feathers with a unique …

The avian skeleton and skeletal muscles have been modified by natural selection over
millions of years to meet the demands of flight. Some birds have lost the ability to fly and …

Sexual selection can influence the evolution of sexually dimorphic exaggerated display
structures. Herein, we explore whether such costly ornamental integumentary structures …

The great diversity of avian species relates to their prodigious capacity for locomotor
variation. The derived structure and function of the avian tail represents one evolutionary …