Characters of Archaeopteryx

Characters of Archaeopteryx

Archaeopteryx was a primitive bird consisting of feathers. It is a genus of bird-like- dinosaurs. Archaeopteryx was accepted by paleontologists as the oldest known bird (member of group Avialae).

Archaeopteryx is considered a transitional fossil between dinosaurs and modern birds. Its German name is “Urogel”.

Scientific position of Archaeopteryx:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Clade: Dinosauria
• Order: Saurischia
• Suborder: Theropoda
• Clade: Avialae
• Family: Archaeopterygidae
• Genus: Archaeopteryx

Phylogenetic position of Archaeopteryx:

Modern paleontology has often classified Archaeopteryx as the most primitive bird. It is not thought to be a true ancestor of modern birds, but rather, a close relative of that ancestor.

Habitat of Archaeopteryx:

They lived in the Late Jurassic around 150 million years ago, At that time Europe (Now southern Germany) was an archipelago of islands in a shallow warm sea, which is now closer to the equator.

General characters of Archaeopteryx

The general characteristics features of archaeopteryx are as follows:

• Archaeopteryx consists jaw with a full set of sharp teeth.
• They had a flat sternum (breastbones), a long bony tail, and gastralia (belly ribs).
• Archaeopteryx possessed three fingers with claws
• Hyperextensible second toe (killing toe)
• The feathers, wings, furcular, and reduced fingers are all characteristics of modern birds.
• The largest species of Archaeopteryx could grow about 0.5m.
• As they had wings but not clear whether Archaeopteryx was capable of flapping flight or simply a glider.
• Despite the presence of numerous avian features, Archaeopteryx had many non-avian Theropod dinosaur characteristics. Unlike modern birds, Archaeopteryx had small teeth as well as long bony tails, features which Archaeopteryx shared with other dinosaurs of the time.
• Because the Archaeopteryx had common features of both birds and non-avian dinosaurs, it has often been considered a link between them.

Other Important Facts 

• They are also known by the German name ‘Urvogel’
• The Archaeopteryx is considered a transitional fossil between dinosaurs and modern birds.
• The initial discovery, a single feather, in 1860 or 1861, and described in 1861 by Hermann von Meyer.
• The first skeleton, known as the London specimen was unearthed in 1861 near Langenaltheim, Germany.
• Specimens of Archaeopteryx were most notable for their well-developed, asymmetrical flight features.
• The tail feathers were less asymmetrical
• The thumb did not yet bear a separately movable tuft of stiff feathers.

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