Evolution and Extinction
Birds are the only dinosaurs still alive today. They descended from the same ancestors as other dinosaurs. No other dinosaurs survived the extinction event 65 million years ago. Before dinosaurs, earlier reptiles called Archosaurs lived. After dinosaurs died out, birds evolved from feathered dinosaurs.
Traits and Evolution
Birds still resemble ancient dinosaur traits like feathers and hollow bones. Reptiles alive now differ from dinosaurs in physical and genetic ways over long evolution. Images of dinosaur-like reptiles fuel myths, but all scientific evidence confirms non-avian dinosaurs perished over 65 million years ago, while related birds persist.
The Last Dinosaur
Birds are today’s only living dinosaurs, having descended from feathered ancestors. Modern birds persist, evolving from dinosaurs over 65 million years.
Conclusion
An extinction event eliminating all other dinosaurs allowed birds’ ancestors to evolutionarily explode into today’s thousands of species.