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Archaeopteryx (pron.:/rkiptrks/AR -kee-OP -tr-iks), sometimes referred to byitsGermanname Urvogel("original bird" or "first bird"), is agenusof earlybirdthat

istransitionalbetweenfeathered dinosaursand modern birds. The name derives from theancient

Greek(archaos) meaning "ancient", and(ptryx), meaning "feather" or "wing". Since the

late 19th century, it has been generally accepted by palaeontologists, and celebrated in lay reference

works, as being the oldest known bird (Avialae).[1]

Archaeopteryxlived in theLate Jurassicperiodaround 150 million years ago, in what is now

southernGermanyduring a time whenEuropewas an archipelago of islands in a shallow warm tropical

sea, much closer to theequatorthan it is now. Similar in shape to aEuropean Magpie, with the largest

individuals possibly attaining the size of araven,[2]

Archaeopteryxcould grow to about 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) in

length. Despite its small size, broad wings, and inferred ability to fly or glide,Archaeopteryxhas more in

common with other small Mesozoic dinosaurs than it does withmodern birds. In particular, it shares the

following features with thedeinonychosaurs(dromaeosaursandtroodontids): jaws with sharp teeth, three

fingers with claws, a long bony tail, hyperextensible second toes ("killing claw"), feathers (which also

suggesthomeothermy), and various skeletal features.[3][4]

These features makeArchaeopteryxa clear candidate for atransitional fossilbetween dinosaurs and

birds.[5][6]

Thus,Archaeopteryxplays an important role not only in the study of the origin of birdsbut in the

study of dinosaurs. It was named from afeatherin 1861. That same year, the first complete specimen

ofArchaeopteryxwas announced. Over the years, ten more fossils ofArchaeopteryxhave surfaced.

Despite variation among these fossils, most experts regard all the remains that have been discovered as

belonging to a single species, though this is still debated.

Most of these eleven fossils include impressions of feathers. Because these feathers are of an advanced

form (flight feathers), these fossils are evidence that the evolution of feathers began before the Late

Jurassic.[7]

Thetype specimenofArchaeopteryxwas discovered just two years afterCharles

DarwinpublishedOn the Origin of Species.Archaeopteryxseemed to confirm Darwin's theories and has

since become a key piece of evidence for the origin of birds, the transitional fossils debate, and

confirmation ofevolution.

Contents

[hide]

1 Description

2 Paleobiology

o 2.1 Plumage

2.1.1 Colouration

o 2.2 Flight
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Englishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Englishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feathered_dinosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feathered_dinosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feathered_dinosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%E1%BF%96%CE%BF%CF%82https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%E1%BF%96%CE%BF%CF%82https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%E1%BF%96%CE%BF%CF%82https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%E1%BF%96%CE%BF%CF%82https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%E1%BF%96%CE%BF%CF%82https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%E1%BF%96%CE%BF%CF%82https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CF%80%CF%84%CE%AD%CF%81%CF%85%CE%BEhttps://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CF%80%CF%84%CE%AD%CF%81%CF%85%CE%BEhttps://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CF%80%CF%84%CE%AD%CF%81%CF%85%CE%BEhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avialaehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avialaehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avialaehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Xiaotingia-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Xiaotingia-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Xiaotingia-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Jurassichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Jurassichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Period_(geology)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Period_(geology)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Period_(geology)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Magpiehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Magpiehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Magpiehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromaeosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromaeosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromaeosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troodontidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troodontidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troodontidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeothermyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeothermyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeothermyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Yalden_1-3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Yalden_1-3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Yalden_1-3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-UCal_MoP-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-UCal_MoP-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-UCal_MoP-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_birdshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_birdshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_birdshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-weln_04-7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-weln_04-7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-weln_04-7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_specimenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_specimenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_specimenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Specieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Specieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Specieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Descriptionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Descriptionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Paleobiologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Paleobiologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Plumagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Plumagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Colourationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Colourationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Flighthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Flighthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Flighthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Colourationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Plumagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Paleobiologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Descriptionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Specieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_specimenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-weln_04-7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_birdshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-UCal_MoP-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-UCal_MoP-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Yalden_1-3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Yalden_1-3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeothermyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troodontidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromaeosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Magpiehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Period_(geology)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Jurassichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Xiaotingia-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avialaehttps://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CF%80%CF%84%CE%AD%CF%81%CF%85%CE%BEhttps://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BC%80%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%E1%BF%96%CE%BF%CF%82https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feathered_dinosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Englishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English


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o 2.3 Growth

o 2.4 Daily activity patterns

3 Paleoecology

4 History of discovery

o 4.1 Taxonomy

o 4.2 Synonyms

5 Controversy

o 5.1 Authenticity

o 5.2Archaeopteryxand Protoavis

o 5.3 Phylogenetic position

o 5.4 Modern analogs

6 In popular culture

7 See also

8 References

9 Further reading

10 External links

[edit]Description

Eight specimens compared to ahumanin scale

Archaeopteryxlived during the earlyTithonianstageof theJurassicperiod, around 150.8148.5 million

years ago.[8]

Most of the specimens ofArchaeopteryxthat have been discovered come from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Growthhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Growthhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Daily_activity_patternshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Daily_activity_patternshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Paleoecologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Paleoecologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#History_of_discoveryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#History_of_discoveryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Taxonomyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Taxonomyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Synonymshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Synonymshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Controversyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Controversyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Authenticityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Authenticityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Archaeopteryx_and_Protoavishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Archaeopteryx_and_Protoavishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Archaeopteryx_and_Protoavishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Archaeopteryx_and_Protoavishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Archaeopteryx_and_Protoavishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Phylogenetic_positionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Phylogenetic_positionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Modern_analogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Modern_analogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#In_popular_culturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#In_popular_culturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#See_alsohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#See_alsohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Further_readinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Further_readinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#External_linkshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#External_linkshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=1https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=1https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithonianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithonianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faunal_stagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faunal_stagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faunal_stagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-ammonitedate-8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-ammonitedate-8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-ammonitedate-8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archiesizeall1.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archiesizeall1.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archiesizeall1.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archiesizeall1.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-ammonitedate-8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faunal_stagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithonianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#External_linkshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Further_readinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#See_alsohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#In_popular_culturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Modern_analogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Phylogenetic_positionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Archaeopteryx_and_Protoavishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Authenticityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Controversyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Synonymshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Taxonomyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#History_of_discoveryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Paleoecologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Daily_activity_patternshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#Growth


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theSolnhofen limestoneinBavaria, southernGermany, which is alagersttte, a rare and remarkable

geological formation known for its superbly detailed fossils.[9]

Archaeopteryxwas roughly the size of araven,[2]

with broad wings that were rounded at the ends and a

long tail compared to its body length. It could reach up to 500 millimetres (20 in) in body length, with an

estimated weight of 0.8 to 1 kilogram (1.8 to 2.2 lb).[2]

Archaeopteryxfeathers, although less documented

than its other features, were very similar in structure and design to modern-day bird feathers.[9]However,

despite the presence of numerous avian features,[10]

Archaeopteryxhad manytheropod

dinosaurcharacteristics. Unlike modern birds,Archaeopteryxhad small teeth[9]

as well as a long bony tail,

features whichArchaeopteryxshared with other dinosaurs of the time.[11]

Because it displays a number of features common to both birds and dinosaurs, Archaeopteryxhas often

been considered a link between them.[9]

In the 1970s,John Ostrom, followingT. H. Huxley's lead in 1868,

argued that birds evolved within theropod dinosaurs and Archaeopteryxwas a critical piece of evidence

for this argument; it had a number of avian features, such as a wishbone, flight feathers, wings and a

partially reversed first toe, and a number of dinosaur and theropod features. For instance, it has a long

ascending process of theankle bone,interdental plates, anobturatorprocess of theischium, and long

chevrons in the tail. In particular, Ostrom found thatArchaeopteryxwas remarkably similar to the

theropod familyDromaeosauridae.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

The first remains ofArchaeopteryxwere discovered in 1861, just two years afterCharles

DarwinpublishedOn the Origin of Species.Archaeopteryxseemed to confirm Darwin's theories and has

since become a key piece of evidence for theorigin of birds, thetransitional fossilsdebate, and

confirmation ofevolution. Indeed, further research on dinosaurs from theGobi DesertandChinahas

since provided more evidence of a link between Archaeopteryxand the dinosaurs, such as the

Chinesefeathered dinosaurs.Archaeopteryxis close to the ancestry of modern birds, and it shows most

of the features one would expect in an ancestral bird. However, it may not be the direct ancestor of living

birds, and it is uncertain how much evolutionary divergence was already present among other birds at the

time.

[edit]Paleobiology

[edit]Plumage
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1880 photo of the BerlinArchaeopteryxspecimen, showing leg feathers that were subsequently removed during preparation

Specimens ofArchaeopteryxwere most notable for their well-developedflight feathers. They were

markedly asymmetrical and showed the structure of flight feathers in modern birds, with vanes givenstability by abarb-barbule-barbicel arrangement.

[21]The tail feathers were less asymmetrical, again in line

with the situation in modern birds and also had firm vanes. Thethumb, however, did not yet bear a

separately movable tuft ofstiff feathers.

The body plumage ofArchaeopteryxis less well documented and has only been properly researched in

the well-preserved Berlin specimen. Thus, as more than one species seems to be involved, the research

into the Berlin specimen's feathers does not necessarily hold true for the rest of the species

ofArchaeopteryx. In the Berlin specimen, there are "trousers" of well-developed feathers on the legs;

some of these feathers seem to have a basic contour feather structure but are somewhat decomposed

(they lackbarbicelsas inratites).[22]

However, in part they are firm and thus capable of supporting flight.[23]

Anatomical illustration comparing the "frond-tail" ofArchaeopteryxwith the "fan-tail" of a modern bird

There was a patch ofpennaceous feathersrunning along the back which was quite similar to the contour

feathers of the body plumage of modern birds in being symmetrical and firm, though not as stiff as the

flight-related feathers. Apart from that, the feather traces in the Berlin specimen are limited to a sort of

"proto-down" not dissimilar to that found in the dinosaurSinosauropteryx, being decomposed and fluffy,

and possibly even appeared more like fur than like feathers in life (though not in their microscopic

structure). These occur on the remainder of the body, as far as such structures are both preserved and

not obliterated by preparation, and the lower neck.[22]

However, there is no indication of feathering on the upper neck and head. While these may conceivably

have been nude, this may still be an artifact of preservation. It appears that

mostArchaeopteryxspecimens became embedded inanoxicsediment after drifting some time on their

back in the sea the head and neck and the tail are generally bent downwards, which suggests that the

specimens had just started to rot when they were embedded, with tendons and muscle relaxing so that

the characteristic shape of the fossil specimens was achieved.[24]

This would mean that the skin was

already softened and loose, which is bolstered by the fact that in some specimens the flight feathers were

starting to detach at the point of embedding in the sediment. So it is hypothesized that the pertinent
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specimens moved along the sea bed in shallow water for some time before burial, the head and upper

neck feathers sloughing off, while the more firmly attached tail feathers remained.[25]

[edit]Colouration

Artist's restoration illustrating one interpretation of Carney's study

In 2011, graduate student Ryan Carney and colleagues performed the first colour study on

anArchaeopteryxspecimen. Usingscanning electron microscopytechnology andenergy-dispersive X-

rayanalysis, the team was able to detect the structure ofmelanosomesin the single-feather specimen

described in 1861. The resultant structure was then compared to that of 87 modern bird species and was

determined with a high percentage of likelihood to be black in colour. The feather studied was most

probably a singlecovert, which would have partly covered the primary feathers on the wings. While the

study does not mean thatArchaeopteryxwas entirely black, it does suggest that it had some black

colouration which included the coverts. Carney pointed out that this is consistent with what we know of

modern flight characteristics, in that black melanosomes have structural properties that strengthen

feathers for flight.[26]

[edit]Flight

As in the wings of modern birds, the flight feathers ofArchaeopteryxwere somewhat asymmetrical and

the tail feathers were rather broad. This implies that the wings and tail were used for lift generation.

However, it is unclear whetherArchaeopteryxwas simply a glider or capable of flapping flight. The lack of

a bonybreastbonesuggests thatArchaeopteryxwas not a very strong flier, but flight muscles might have

attached to the thick, boomerang-shaped wishbone, the platelikecoracoids, or perhaps to

acartilaginoussternum. The sideways orientation of the glenoid (shoulder) joint

betweenscapula,coracoidandhumerus instead of the dorsally angled arrangement found in modern

birds might indicate thatArchaeopteryxwas unable to lift its wings above its back, a requirement for

the upstroke found in modern flapping flight. According to a study byPhilip Senterin2006Archaeopteryxwas indeed unable to use flapping flight as modern birds do, but it may well have

utilized a downstroke-only flap-assisted gliding technique.[27]

Archaeopteryxwings were relatively large, which would have resulted in a low stall speed and

reducedturning radius. The short and rounded shape of the wings would have increased drag, but could

also have improvedArchaeopteryx'ability to fly through cluttered environments such as trees and brush

(similar wing shapes are seen in birds which fly through trees and brush, such as crowsandpheasants).

The presence of "hind wings", asymmetrical flight feathers stemming from the legs similar to those seen
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in dromaeosaurids such asMicroraptor, would also have added to the aerial mobility ofArchaeopteryx.

The first detailed study of the hind wings by Longrich in 2006 suggested that the structures formed up to

12% of the totalairfoil. This would have reduced stall speed by up to 6% and turning radius by up to

12%.[23]

The feathers ofArchaeopteryxwere asymmetrical. This has been interpreted as evidence that it was a

flyer, as flightless birds tend to have symmetrical feathers. However, some scientists, including Thomson

and Speakman, have questioned this. They studied more than 70 families of living birds, and found that

some flightless types do have a range of asymmetry in their feathers, and that the feathers

ofArchaeopteryxfall into this range.[28]

However, the degree of asymmetry withArchaeopteryxis more

typical for slow flyers than for flightless birds.[29]

The Munich Specimen

In 2010, Robert L. Nudds and Gareth J. Dyke in the journal Science published a paper in which they

analysed therachisesof the primary feathers ofConfuciusornisandArchaeopteryx. The analysis

suggested that the rachises on these two genera were thinner and weaker than those compared tomodern birds relative to body weight. The authors determined thatArchaeopteryx, along

with Confuciusornis, were unable to use flapping flight.[30]

This study, however, was criticized byPhilip J.

Currieand Luis Chiappe. Chiappe suggested that it is difficult to measure the rachises of fossilized

feathers, and Currie speculated thatArchaeopteryxandConfuciusornismust have been able to fly to

some degree, as their fossils are preserved in what is believed to have been in marine or lake sediments,

suggesting that they must have been able to fly over deep water.[31]

Gregory Paulalso disagreed with the

study, arguing in a 2010 response that Nudds and Dyke had overestimated the weights of these early

birds, and that more accurate weight estimates allowed powered flight even with relatively narrow

rachises. Nudds and Dyke had assumed a weight of 250 grams for the Munich specimen Archaeopteryx,

a young juvenile, based on published weight estimates of larger specimens. Paul argued that a more

reasonable body weight estimate for the Munich specimen is about 140 grams. Paul also criticized the

measurements of the rachises themselves, noting that the feathers in the Munich specimen are poorly

preserved. Nudds and Dyke reported a diameter of 0.75 millimetre (0.030 in) for the longest primary

feather, which Paul could not confirm using photographs. Paul measured some of the inner primary

feathers, finding rachises 1.251.4 mm across.[32]

Despite these criticisms, Nudds and Dyke stood by

their original conclusions. They claimed that Paul's statement that an adultArchaeopteryxwould have

been a better flyer than the juvenile Munich specimen was dubious. This, they reasoned, would require
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microraptorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microraptorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microraptorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airfoilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airfoilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airfoilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Longrich_1-23https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Longrich_1-23https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Longrich_1-23https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-speakmanthomson1994-28https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-speakmanthomson1994-28https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-speakmanthomson1994-28https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Nudds.26Dyke2010-30https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Nudds.26Dyke2010-30https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Nudds.26Dyke2010-30https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_J._Curriehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_J._Curriehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_J._Curriehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_J._Curriehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-sciencefeatherdebate-31https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-sciencefeatherdebate-31https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Paulhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Paulhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Paulhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-paul2010-32https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-paul2010-32https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-paul2010-32https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_bavarica_Detail.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_bavarica_Detail.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_bavarica_Detail.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_bavarica_Detail.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-paul2010-32https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Paulhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-sciencefeatherdebate-31https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_J._Curriehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_J._Curriehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Nudds.26Dyke2010-30https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-speakmanthomson1994-28https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Longrich_1-23https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airfoilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microraptor


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even thicker rachis, evidence for which has not yet been presented.[33]

Another possibility is that they

hadn't achieved true flight, but instead used their wings as aids for extra lift while running over water after

the fashion of the basilisk lizard - which could explain their presence in lake and marine deposits -

seeEvolution of Bird Flight.[34][35]

Replica of the London Specimen

In 2004, scientists analyzing a detailedCT scanof thebraincaseof the LondonArchaeopteryxconcluded

that its brain was significantly larger than that of most dinosaurs, indicating that it possessed the brain

size necessary for flying. The overall brain anatomy was reconstructed using the scan. The reconstruction

showed that the regions associated with vision took up nearly one-third of the brain. Other well-developed

areas involved hearing and muscle coordination.[36]

The skull scan also revealed the structure of the inner

ear. The structure more closely resembles that of modern birds than the inner ear of non-avian reptiles.

These characteristics taken together suggest that Archaeopteryxhad the keen sense of hearing, balance,

spatial perception and coordination needed to fly.[37]

Archaeopteryxhad a cerebrum-to-brain-volume ratio

78% of the way to modern birds from the condition of non -coelurosauriandinosaurs

likeCarcharodontosaurusorAllosaurus, which had a crocodile-like anatomy of the brain and inner ear.[38]

Archaeopteryxcontinues to play an important part in scientific debates about the origin and evolution of

birds. Some scientists see it as a semi-arboreal climbing animal, following the idea that birds evolved from

tree-dwelling gliders (the "trees down" hypothesis for the evolution of flight proposed byO. C. Marsh).

Other scientists seeArchaeopteryxas running quickly along the ground, supporting the idea that birds

evolved flight by running (the "ground up" hypothesis proposed bySamuel Wendell Williston). Still others

suggest thatArchaeopteryxmight have been at home both in the trees and on the ground, like modern

crows, and this latter view is what today is considered best-supported by morphological characters.

Altogether, it appears that the species was not particularly specialized for running on the ground or for

perching. A scenario outlined by Elanowski in 2002 suggested that Archaeopteryxused its wings mainly

to escapepredatorsby glides punctuated with shallow downstrokes to reach successively higher

perches, and alternatively to cover longer distances by (mainly) gliding down from cliffs or treetops.[25]

[edit]Growth

Growth trends compared with other dinosaurs and birds

Ahistologicalstudy by Erickson, Norell, Zhongue and others in 2009 showed that Archaeopteryxgrew

relatively slowly compared to modern birds, based on growth lines found in slices

ofArchaeopteryxbones.[2]

According to their study, all known skeletons ofArchaeopteryxcame from

juvenile specimens. They estimated thatArchaeopteryxreached adult size in about 970 days (about 2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Nudds.26Dyke_October2010-33https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Nudds.26Dyke_October2010-33https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Nudds.26Dyke_October2010-33https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_flight#Evolution_of_bird_flighthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_flight#Evolution_of_bird_flighthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-34https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-34https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-34https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computed_tomographyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computed_tomographyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computed_tomographyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braincasehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braincasehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braincasehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Witmer_1-36https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Witmer_1-36https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Witmer_1-36https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Alonso-37https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Alonso-37https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Alonso-37https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelurosaurianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelurosaurianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelurosaurianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosaurushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosaurushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosaurushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allosaurushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allosaurushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allosaurushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Larsson2001-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Larsson2001-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Larsson2001-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othniel_Charles_Marshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othniel_Charles_Marshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othniel_Charles_Marshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Wendell_Willistonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Wendell_Willistonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Wendell_Willistonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Elzanowski2002-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Elzanowski2002-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Elzanowski2002-25https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=6https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=6https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=6https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histologicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histologicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histologicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_growth_curve.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_growth_curve.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_lithographica,_replica_of_London_specimen,_Staatliches_Museum_f%C3%BCr_Naturkunde_Karlsruhe,_Germany_-_20100925.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_growth_curve.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_growth_curve.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_lithographica,_replica_of_London_specimen,_Staatliches_Museum_f%C3%BCr_Naturkunde_Karlsruhe,_Germany_-_20100925.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_growth_curve.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_growth_curve.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_lithographica,_replica_of_London_specimen,_Staatliches_Museum_f%C3%BCr_Naturkunde_Karlsruhe,_Germany_-_20100925.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histologicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=6https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Elzanowski2002-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Wendell_Willistonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othniel_Charles_Marshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Larsson2001-38https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allosaurushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosaurushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelurosaurianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Alonso-37https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Witmer_1-36https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braincasehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computed_tomographyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-34https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-34https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_flight#Evolution_of_bird_flighthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Nudds.26Dyke_October2010-33


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years and 8 months), and weighed between0.8 1 kilogram. The study also found that the

birdsJeholornisandSapeornisgrew slowly, as did the dromaeosauridMahakala. The

birdsConfuciusornisandIchthyornis, however, grew very quickly, following a growth trend similar to that

of modern birds.[39]

One of the few modern birds which exhibit slow growth is the flightlesskiwi, and the

authors speculated thatArchaeopteryxand the kiwi had similarmetabolisms.[2]

[edit]Daily activity patterns

Comparisons between thescleral ringsofArchaeopteryxand modern birds and reptiles indicate that it

may have beendiurnal, similar to most modern birds.[40]

[edit]Paleoecology

The richness and diversity of theSolnhofen limestonesin which all specimens ofArchaeopteryxhave

been found have shed light on an ancient Jurassic Bavaria strikingly different from the present day. The

latitude was similar toFlorida, though the climate was likely to have been drier, as evidenced by fossils of

plants with adaptations for arid conditions and lack of terrestrial sediments characteristic of rivers.

Evidence of plants, though scarce, includecycadsand conifers while animals found include a large

number of insects, small lizards,pterosaursandCompsognathus.[41]

The excellent preservation ofArchaeopteryxfossils and other terrestrial fossils found

atSolnhofenindicates that they did not travel far before becoming

preserved.[42]

TheArchaeopteryxspecimens found are likely therefore to have lived on the low islands

surrounding the Solnhofen lagoon rather than been corpses that drifted in from farther

away.Archaeopteryxskeletons are considerably less numerous in the deposits of Solnhofen than those

of pterosaurs, of which seven genera have been found.[43]

The pterosaurs included species such

asRhamphorhynchusbelonging to theRhamphorhynchidae, the group which dominated

thenichecurrently occupied byseabirds, and which became extinct at the end of the Jurassic. The

pterosaurs, which also includedPterodactylus, were common enough that it is unlikely that the specimens

found arevagrantsfrom the larger islands 50 km (31 mi) to the north.[44]

The islands that surrounded the Solnhofen lagoon were low lying, semi-aridand sub-tropicalwith a

longdry seasonand little rain.[45]

The closest modern analogue for the Solnhofen conditions is said to

beOrca Basinin the northernGulf of Mexico, though that is much deeper than the Solnhofen

lagoons.[43]

Thefloraof these islands was adapted to these dry conditions and consisted mostly of low

(3 m [10 ft]) shrubs.[44]

Contrary to reconstructions ofArchaeopteryxclimbing large trees, these seem to

have been mostly absent from the islands; few trunks have been found in the sediments and fossilized

treepollenis also absent.

The lifestyle ofArchaeopteryxis difficult to reconstruct and there are several theories regarding it. Some

researchers suggest that it was primarily adapted to life on the ground,[46]

while other researchers suggest

that it was principally arboreal.[47]

The absence of trees does not precludeArchaeopteryxfrom an arboreal

lifestyle as several species of extant bird live exclusively in low shrubs. Various aspects of the

morphology ofArchaeopteryxpoint to either an arboreal or ground existence, including the length of its

legs and the elongation in its feet; some authorities consider it likely to have been a generalist capable of

feeding in both shrubs and open ground, as well as alongside the shores of the lagoon .[44]

It most likely

hunted small prey, seizing it with its jaws if it was small enough, or with its claws if it was larger.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeholornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeholornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeholornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapeornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapeornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapeornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahakala_(dinosaur)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahakala_(dinosaur)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahakala_(dinosaur)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-39https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-39https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-39https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=7https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=7https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sclerotic_ringhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sclerotic_ringhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sclerotic_ringhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnalityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnalityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnalityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-40https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-40https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-40https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=8https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=8https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofen_limestonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofen_limestonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofen_limestonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floridahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floridahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floridahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compsognathushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compsognathushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Davis_1-42https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Davis_1-42https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Davis_1-42https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Bartell_90-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Bartell_90-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Bartell_90-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphorhynchus_(pterosaur)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphorhynchus_(pterosaur)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphorhynchus_(pterosaur)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphorhynchidaehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphorhynchidaehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphorhynchidaehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_nichehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_nichehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_nichehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabirdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabirdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabirdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodactylushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodactylushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodactylushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagrancy_(biology)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagrancy_(biology)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagrancy_(biology)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-aridhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-aridhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-aridhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_seasonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_seasonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_seasonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Buison-45https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Buison-45https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Buison-45https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca_Basinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca_Basinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca_Basinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Mexicohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Mexicohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Mexicohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Bartell_90-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Bartell_90-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Bartell_90-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Ostrom_3-46https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Ostrom_3-46https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Ostrom_3-46https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Feduc_1-47https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Feduc_1-47https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Feduc_1-47https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Feduc_1-47https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Ostrom_3-46https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Bartell_90-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Mexicohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca_Basinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Buison-45https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_seasonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-aridhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Paul_1-44https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagrancy_(biology)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodactylushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabirdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_nichehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphorhynchidaehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamphorhynchus_(pterosaur)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Bartell_90-43https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Davis_1-42https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compsognathushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterosaurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floridahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofen_limestonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-40https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnalityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sclerotic_ringhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Erickson_etal_2009-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-39https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confuciusornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahakala_(dinosaur)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapeornishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeholornis


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[edit]History of discovery

Main article:Specimens of Archaeopteryx

Timeline ofArchaeopteryxdiscoveries until 2007. (Click to enlarge.)

Over the years, eleven body fossil specimens ofArchaeopteryxand a feather that may belong to it havebeen found. All of the fossils come from thelimestonedeposits, quarried for centuries,

nearSolnhofen,Germany.[41][48]

The single feather

The initial discovery, a single feather, was unearthed in 1860 or 1861 and described in 1861 by Christian

Erich Hermann von Meyer. It is currently located at theHumboldt Museum fr NaturkundeinBerlin. This

is generally assigned toArchaeopteryxand was the initialholotype, but whether it actually is a feather of

this species or another, as yet undiscovered, proto-bird is unknown. There are some indications it is

indeed not from the same animal as most of the skeletons (the "typical"A. lithographica).[49]

The first skeleton, known as the London Specimen (BMNH 37001),[50]

was unearthed in 1861

nearLangenaltheim,Germany, and perhaps given to a local physician Karl Hberlein in return for medical

services. He then sold it for 700 to theNatural History MuseuminLondon, where it remains.[41]

Missing

most of its head and neck, it was described in 1863 by Richard OwenasArchaeopteryx macrura,
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=9https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=9https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=9https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specimens_of_Archaeopteryxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specimens_of_Archaeopteryxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specimens_of_Archaeopteryxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Erich_Hermann_von_Meyerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Erich_Hermann_von_Meyerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Erich_Hermann_von_Meyerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Erich_Hermann_von_Meyerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_f%C3%BCr_Naturkundehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_f%C3%BCr_Naturkundehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_f%C3%BCr_Naturkundehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holotypehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holotypehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holotypehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Griffiths-49https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Griffiths-49https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Griffiths-49https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-BMNH_37001-50https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-BMNH_37001-50https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-BMNH_37001-50https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langenaltheimhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langenaltheimhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langenaltheimhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_History_Museumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_History_Museumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_History_Museumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Owenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Owenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Owenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_(Feather).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_(Feather).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_timeline.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_timeline.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_(Feather).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_(Feather).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_timeline.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_timeline.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_(Feather).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_(Feather).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_timeline.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_timeline.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_(Feather).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_(Feather).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_timeline.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_timeline.svghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Owenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_History_Museumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langenaltheimhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-BMNH_37001-50https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Griffiths-49https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holotypehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_f%C3%BCr_Naturkundehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Erich_Hermann_von_Meyerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Erich_Hermann_von_Meyerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solnhofenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specimens_of_Archaeopteryxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeopteryx&action=edit&section=9


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allowing for the possibility it did not belong to the same species as the feather. In the subsequent 4th

edition of hisOn the Origin of Species,[51]

Charles Darwindescribed how some authors had maintained

"that the whole class of birds came suddenly into existence during the eocene period; but now we know,

on the authority of professor Owen, that a bird certainly lived during the deposition of the upper

greensand; and still more recently, that strange bird, the Archeopteryx, with a long lizard-like tail, bearing

a pair of feathers on each joint, and with its wings furnished with two free claws, has been discovered inthe oolitic slates of Solnhofen. Hardly any recent discovery shows more forcibly than this how little we as

yet know of the former inhabitants of the world."[52]

TheGreekterm "pteryx" () primarily means "wing", but can also designate merely "feather". Von

Meyer suggested this in his description. At first he referred to a single feather which appeared like a

modern bird'sremex(wing feather), but he had heard of and been shown a rough sketch of

theLondonspecimen, to which he referred as a "Skelet eines mit hnlichen Federn bedeckten Thieres"

("skeleton of an animal covered in similar feathers"). InGerman, this ambiguity is resolved by the

term Schwinge which does not necessarily mean a wing used for flying. Urschwinge was the favored

translation ofArchaeopteryxamong German scholars in the late 19th century. InEnglish, "ancient pinion"

offers a rough approximation.

Since then ten specimens have been recovered:

The Berlin Specimen (HMN 1880) was discovered in 1874 or 1875 on the Blumenberg nearEichsttt,

Germany, by farmer Jakob Niemeyer. He sold this preciousfossilfor the money to buy a cow in 1876, to

inn-keeper Johann Drr, who again sold it to Ernst Otto Hberlein, the son of K. Hberlein. Placed on

sale between 1877 and 1881, with potential buyers including O. C. MarshofYale University's Peabody

Museum, it was eventually bought by the Humboldt Museum fr Naturkunde, where it is now displayed,

for 20,000Goldmark. The transaction was financed byErnst Werner von Siemens, founder of thefamous

companythat bears his name.[41]

Described in 1884 byWilhelm Dames, it is the most complete specimen,

and the first with a complete head. It was in 1897 named by Dames as a new species, A. siemensii; a

recent evaluation supports theA. siemensiispecies identification.[25]

Cast of the Maxberg Specimen

Composed of a torso, theMaxberg Specimen(S5) was discovered in 1956 near Langenaltheim; it was

brought to the attention of professorFlorian Hellerin 1958 and described by him in 1959. It is currently
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Specieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Specieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Darwin_1-51https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Darwin_1-51https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Darwin_2-52https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Darwin_2-52https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Darwin_2-52https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eichst%C3%A4tthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eichst%C3%A4tthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eichst%C3%A4tthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othniel_Charles_Marshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othniel_Charles_Marshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othniel_Charles_Marshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_Universityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_Universityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_Universityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_gold_markhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_gold_markhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_gold_markhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Werner_von_Siemenshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Werner_von_Siemenshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Werner_von_Siemenshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_AGhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_AGhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_AGhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_AGhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Dameshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Dameshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Dameshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Elzanowski2002-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Elzanowski2002-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Elzanowski2002-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxberg_specimenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxberg_specimenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxberg_specimenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florian_Hellerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florian_Hellerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florian_Hellerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_lithographica_(Cast_of_Maxberg_Specimen).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_lithographica_(Cast_of_Maxberg_Specimen).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_lithographica_(Cast_of_Maxberg_Specimen).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeopteryx_lithographica_(Cast_of_Maxberg_Specimen).jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florian_Hellerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxberg_specimenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Elzanowski2002-25https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Dameshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Chiappe_07-41https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_AGhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_AGhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Werner_von_Siemenshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_gold_markhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_Universityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othniel_Charles_Marshhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eichst%C3%A4tthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_featherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Darwin_2-52https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx#cite_note-Darwin_1-51https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species


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missing, though it was once exhibited at theMaxberg Museumin Solnhofen. It belonged toEduard

Opitsch, who loaned it to the museum until 1974. After his death in 1991, the specimen was discovered to

be missing and may have been stolen or sold. The specimen is missing its head and tail, although the

rest of the skeleton is mostly intact.

Slab of the Haarlem Specimen

The Haarlem Specimen (TM 6428, also known as the Teyler Specimen) was discovered in 1855

nearRiedenburg, Germany, and described as aPterodactyluscrassipes in 1857 by von Meyer. It was

reclassified in 1970 byJohn Ostromand is currently located at theTeylers

MuseuminHaarlem,Netherlands. It was the very first specimen, despite the classification error. It is also

one of the least complete specimens, consisting mostly of limb bones and isolated cervical vertebrae and

ribs.

The Eichsttt Specimen (JM 2257) was discovered in 1951 near Workerszell, Germany and described

byPeter Wellnhoferin 1974. Currently located at theJura MuseuminEichsttt, Germany, it is the

smallest specimen and has the second best head. It is possibly a separate genus ( Jurapteryx recurva) or

species (A. recurva).

The Solnhofen Specimen (BSP 1999) was discovered in the 1970s nearEichsttt, Germany, and

described in 1988 by Wellnhofer. Currently located at theBrgermeister-Mller-Museumin Solnhofen, it

was originally classified asCompsognathusby an amateur collector, the same burgomaster Friedrich

Mller after which the museum is named. It is the largest specimen known and may belong to a separate

genus and species,Wellnhoferiagrandis. It is missing only portions of the neck, tail, backbone, and head.

The Munich Specimen (S6, formerly known as the Solnhofen-Aktien-Verein Specimen) was discovered

on 3 August 1992 near Langenaltheim and described in 1993 by Wellnhofer. It is currently located at

thePalontologisches Museum MncheninMunich, to which it was sold in 1999 for 1.9

millionDeutschmark. What was initially believed to be a bonysternumturned out to be part ofthecoracoid,

[53]but acartilaginoussternum may have been present. Only the front of its face is missing. It

may be a new species,A. bavarica.
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Daiting Specimen

An eighth, fragmentary specimen was discovered in 1990, not in Solnhofen limestone, but in somewhat

younger sediments atDaiting, Suevia. It is therefore known as the Daiting Specimen, and had been

known since 1996 only from a cast, briefly shown at the Naturkundemuseum inBamberg. Long remaining

hidden and therefore dubbed the 'Phantom', the original was purchased by palaeontologist Raimund

Albertsdrfer in 2009.[54]

It was on display for the first time with six other original fossils

ofArchaeopteryxat the Munich Mineral Showin October 2009.[55]

A first, quick look by scientists indicates

that this specimen might represent a new species ofArchaeopteryx.[56]

It was found in a limestone bed

that was a few hundred thousand years younger than the other finds.[54]

Brgermeister-Ml

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