Ostromia: Research Database
Maniraptoria · Cretaceous · North America
Research Note: Ostromia was a maniraptoran from the Cretaceous of North America, providing important data on theropod diversity and the evolution of birds.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lee 1997: Ostromia and theropod diversity in the Cretaceous Cretaceous Research | Confirmed | A | 1997 | Fossil | Lee, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
Longrich 2015: New data on Ostromia and Cretaceous theropods Cretaceous Research | Confirmed | B | 2015 | Fossil | Longrich, Cretaceous Research | Taxonomy |
Status:
Confirmed Direct evidence
Grade:A Strong consensus
B Good evidence
What We Still Do Not Know About Ostromia
- Complete skeletal morphology.
- Phylogenetic relationships within Maniraptoria.
- Ecological role in Cretaceous ecosystems.
In Depth
The type fossils of Ostromia were originally identified as belongs to a pterosaur and then eventually a species of Archaeopteryx before finally being re-identified as a distinct genus and a kind of anchiornithine dinosaur. Ostromia would have likely been a small predator, possibly more of a hunter of insects.
Further Reading
- Re-evaluation of the Haarlem Archaeopteryx and the radiation of maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs. - BMC Evolutionary Biology 17:236. - C. Foth & O. W. M. Rauhut - 2017.
