Geist NR, Jones TD
Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Science. 1996 May 3;272(5262):712-4. doi: 10.1126/science.272.5262.712.
Skeletal ontogeny in extant archosaurians (crocodilians and birds) indicates that the morphology of the perinatal pelvic girdle is an indicator of overall developmental maturity [that is, altriciality (nestbound) versus precociality (mobile and relatively independent)]. Comparison of the skeletal anatomy of perinatal extant archosaurians and perinatal dinosaurs suggests that known dinosaur hatchlings were precocial. These data are consistent with the overall similarity in nesting behavior of dinosaurs and modern crocodilians.
现存主龙类(鳄鱼和鸟类)的骨骼个体发育表明,围产期骨盆带的形态是整体发育成熟度的一个指标[即晚成性(依赖巢穴)与早成性(活动且相对独立)]。对围产期现存主龙类和围产期恐龙的骨骼解剖结构进行比较表明,已知的恐龙幼崽是早成性的。这些数据与恐龙和现代鳄鱼筑巢行为的总体相似性是一致的。