A miniaturization event in Ornithodira

The origins of Ornithodira (the last common ancestor of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and their descendants) are yet to be resolved, and have the potential to inform on the diversification of some of the most intriguing ecologies and body forms to evolve in reptiles. A recent discovery of an extremely small ornithodiran archosaur by Christian Kammerer and colleagues is indicative of a miniaturisation event early in the evolution of Ornithodira. This raises questions about the evolution of characters associated with small body forms in these groups, such as flight and body surface integument.