Are Owls and Other Birds of Prey Descendants of Raptors?
When we look at birds of prey, the last thing most of us think about is dinosaurs, since birds are much smaller and less threatening. However, large species of birds, such as eagles and owls, share many characteristics with raptors, indicating that there’s a familial connection between the species. Not only do birds and raptors have feathers, but they also have talons and hunting instincts. Explore how owls and other birds of prey descend from raptors.
Are Owls Related To Raptors?
Many of us look at the world around us and wish we could somehow interact with dinosaurs, and more specifically, raptors. Although the beasts of the past no longer walk our planet, their descendants are alive and thriving. Many birds of prey are modern relatives of raptors, and technically, owls fall into this category.
Scientists recognize owls and other birds of prey as modern raptors due to their distinctive feathers and predatory behavior. After all, the word raptor comes from the Latin word “rapio,” which means “to seize”. The animals—prehistoric and modern—receive this name because of their hunting style. Birds of prey use their powerful talons to snatch prey, just as raptor dinosaurs did.
How Are Owls and Raptors?
How can birds can be raptors if dinosaurs went extinct millions of years ago? The answer comes down to evolution. The mass extinction event at the end of the Mesozoic era didn’t kill every living species, only those that were unable to adapt to the changing world.
Select raptors from the dromaeosaurid family are the closest relatives to birds and survived thanks to numerous factors, including their smaller size (compared to large theropods) and skeletal adaptations. For example, prehistoric raptors had forelimbs structured in a way that would eventually resemble wings as the species continued to evolve and diverge on the family tree.
Throughout millions of years, species of raptors would offshoot into what eventually became birds. This means that while owls aren’t Velociraptors, they share the same ancestry.
What Makes Owls Different?
When looking at owls and other birds of prey and how they’re descendants of raptors, it’s also important to note how the species differ. One of the biggest differences between birds and raptors is that many birds of prey, including all owl species, can fly; however, dinosaurs were strictly land-walking animals.
Another major distinction between birds and prehistoric raptors is their teeth. While birds have beaks for mouths, raptor dinosaurs had rows of razor-sharp teeth that they used to grab and devour prey. As we examine anatomy, we can also observe the differences in their tails. Although birds have tail feathers, they do not have the extended tailbone that their ancestors possessed.
Collect Your Favorite Beasts
Raptors are among the most popular species of dinosaur, partially because we can observe a version of them today. If birds of prey don’t quite make the cut for you, Creative Beast Studio’s Velociraptor figures are scale action figures of the beloved animals. Add a touch of prehistoric adventure to your space today by exploring our raptor collection and bringing these iconic creatures to life.
