Changes: Archaeopteryx

Revision as of 01:57, 26 November 2020

Archaeopteryx (/ˌɑrkiːˈɒptərɨks/ AR-kee-OP-tər-iks), sometimes referred to by its German name Urvogel ("original bird" or "first bird"), is a genus of early bird. The name derives from the ancient Greek ἀρχαῖος (archaīos) meaning "ancient", and πτέρυξ (ptéryx), meaning "feather" or "wing".

It is often called the first bird, however that is inaccurate, since older probable avians have since been identified, including Anchiornis, Xiaotingia, and Aurornis.

Facts

Archaeopteryx lived in the Late Jurassic period around 150 MYA, in what is now southern Germany during a time when Europe was an archipelago of islands in a shallow warm tropical sea, much closer to the equator than it is now. Similar in shape to a European Magpie, with the largest individuals possibly attaining the size of a raven, Archaeopteryx could grow to about 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) in length. Despite its small size, broad wings, and inferred ability to fly, Archaeopteryx has more in common with other small Mesozoic dinosaurs than it does with modern birds. In particular, it shares the following features with the "deinonychosaurs" (dromaeosaurs and troodontids): jaws with sharp teeth, three fingers with claws, a long bony tail, hyperextensible second toes ("killing claw"), feathers (which also suggest homeothermy), and various skeletal features.

Thus, Archaeopteryx plays an important role, not only in the study of the origin of birds, but in the study of non-avian dinosaurs. It was named from a feather in 1861. That same year, the first complete specimen of Archaeopteryx was announced. Over the years, ten more fossils of Archaeopteryx have surfaced. Despite variation among these fossils, most experts regard all the remains that have been discovered as belonging to a single species, although 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.

The type specimen of Archaeopteryx was discovered just two years after Charles Darwin published "On the Origin of Species". Archaeopteryx seemed 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 of evolution.

Modern studies indicate that at least some of its back and wings were black in color.

It probably lived much like modern galliformes, spending much time on the ground, and being omnivorous.

In Walking With... series

Walking with Dinosaurs: Inside Their World

Archaeopteryx is one of the dinosaurs featured in this app.

Other Media

So far, Archaeopteryx wasn't featured in any Impossible Pictures programs, but it was mentioned in The Complete Guide To Prehistoric Life in Ornitholestes entry as one of the first dinosaur-to-bird transitions. It was photographed there, too.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Infobox creature
-[[File:443px-Archaeopteryx_lithographica_(Berlin_specimen).jpg|thumb|Archeopteryx (Wiki image).]]
+|name = ''Archaeopteryx''
-'''Archaeopteryx''' (/ˌɑrkiːˈɒptərɨks/ AR-kee-OP-tər-iks), sometimes referred to by its German name Urvogel ("original bird" or "first bird"), is a genus of early [[Birds|bird]] that is transitional between feathered dinosaurs and modern birds. The name derives from the ancient Greek ἀρχαῖος (archaīos) meaning "ancient", and πτέρυξ (ptéryx), meaning "feather" or "wing". Since the late nineteenth century, it had been generally accepted by palaeontologists, and celebrated in lay reference works, as being the oldest known bird (member of the group Avialae).
+|image = [[Image:New first bird.png|300px]]
+|diet = Carnivore
+|range = ''Germany''
+|time = Middle [[Jurassic]] period
+|othern = Urvogel
+|appearances = [[Walking with Dinosaurs: Inside Their World]]
+}}
+'''Archaeopteryx''' (/ˌɑrkiːˈɒptərɨks/ AR-kee-OP-tər-iks), sometimes referred to by its German name Urvogel ("original bird" or "first bird"), is a genus of early [[Birds|bird]]. The name derives from the ancient Greek ἀρχαῖος (archaīos) meaning "ancient", and πτέρυξ (ptéryx), meaning "feather" or "wing".
-However, older potential avialans have since been identified, including Anchiornis, Xiaotingia, and Aurornis.
+It is often called the first bird, however that is inaccurate, since older probable avians have since been identified, including ''Anchiornis'', ''Xiaotingia'', and ''Aurornis''.
 ==Facts==
+''Archaeopteryx'' lived in the Late [[Jurassic]] period around 150 MYA, in what is now southern [[Germany]] during a time when [[Europe]] was an archipelago of islands in a shallow warm tropical sea, much closer to the equator than it is now. Similar in shape to a European Magpie, with the largest individuals possibly attaining the size of a raven, ''Archaeopteryx ''could grow to about 0.5 m (1&nbsp;ft 8 in) in length. Despite its small size, broad wings, and inferred ability to fly, ''Archaeopteryx'' has more in common with other small [[Mesozoic]] [[dinosaurs]] than it does with modern birds. In particular, it shares the following features with the "deinonychosaurs" ([[Dromaeosaurids/Raptors|dromaeosaurs and troodontids]]): jaws with sharp teeth, three fingers with claws, a long bony tail, hyperextensible second toes ("killing claw"), feathers (which also suggest homeothermy), and various skeletal features.
+Thus, ''Archaeopteryx'' plays an important role, not only in the study of the origin of birds, but in the study of non-avian dinosaurs. It was named from a feather in 1861. That same year, the first complete specimen of ''Archaeopteryx'' was announced. Over the years, ten more fossils of ''Archaeopteryx'' have surfaced. Despite variation among these fossils, most experts regard all the remains that have been discovered as belonging to a single species, although this is still debated.
-<br /><br />Archaeopteryx lived in the Late [[Jurassic]] period around 150 MYA, in what is now southern [[Germany]] during a time when Europe was an archipelago of islands in a shallow warm tropical sea, much closer to the equator than it is now. Similar in shape to a European Magpie, with the largest individuals possibly attaining the size of a raven, Archaeopteryx could 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, Archaeopteryx has more in common with other small [[Mesozoic]] [[dinosaurs]] than it does with modern birds. In particular, it shares the following features with the deinonychosaurs ([[Dromaeosaurids/Raptors|dromaeosaurs and troodontids]]): jaws with sharp teeth, three fingers with claws, a long bony tail, hyperextensible second toes ("killing claw"), feathers (which also suggest homeothermy), and various skeletal features.<br /><br />These features make Archaeopteryx a clear candidate for a transitional fossil between dinosaurs and birds.
-Thus, Archaeopteryx plays an important role, not only in the study of the origin of birds, but in the study of dinosaurs. It was named from a feather in 1861. That same year, the first complete specimen of Archaeopteryx was announced. Over the years, ten more fossils of Archaeopteryx have surfaced. Despite variation among these fossils, most experts regard all the remains that have been discovered as belonging to a single species, although this is still debated.<br /><br />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.
+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.
+The type specimen of ''Archaeopteryx'' was discovered just two years after Charles Darwin published "On the Origin of Species". ''Archaeopteryx'' seemed 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 of evolution.
+Modern studies indicate that at least some of its back and wings were black in color.
+It probably lived much like modern galliformes, spending much time on the ground, and being omnivorous.
-The type specimen of Archaeopteryx was discovered just two years after Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species. Archaeopteryx seemed 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 of evolution.
 ==In Walking With... series==
+===''[[Walking with Dinosaurs: Inside Their World]] ''===
-So far, Archaeopteryx wasn't featured in any '''Impossible Pictures '''programms, but it was mentioned in '''[[The Complete Guide To Prehistoric Life]] '''in ''[[Ornitholestes]]'' entry as one of the first dinosaur-to-bird transitions. It was photographed there, too.
+''Archaeopteryx'' is one of the dinosaurs featured in this app.
+===''Other Media''===
+So far, ''Archaeopteryx'' wasn't featured in any '''Impossible Pictures '''programs, but it was mentioned in '''[[The Complete Guide To Prehistoric Life]] '''in ''[[Ornitholestes]]'' entry as one of the first dinosaur-to-bird transitions. It was photographed there, too.
+==Gallery==
+<gallery>
+File:Archaeopteryx.png
+</gallery>
+{{Birds}}
 [[Category:Book Only Animals]]
-[[Category:Birds]]
 [[Category:Bird-like dinosaurs]]
 [[Category:Carnivores]]
 [[Category:Animals from Europe]]
-[[Category:Walking with Wikia]]
+[[Category:Mesozoic animals]]
-[[Category:Meat eating animals]]
+[[Category:Jurassic animals]]
-[[Category:Meat eating dinosaurs]]
+[[Category:Birds]]
+[[Category:Creatures]]
+[[Category:Animals from Germany]]
+[[Category:Prehistoric creatures]]
+[[Category:Prehistoric Creatures described in 1861]]