Archaeopteryx – The First Bird`s Fossil
Archaeopteryx – The First Bird`s Fossil The first fossil of bird or Archaeopteryx lithographica was discovered by Andreas Wagner in 1861 in the lithograohic slate quarries of Solenhofen in Bavaria (Germany). It is now kept in British Museum. In 1877 another specimen was discovered from the same locality and was named Archaeornis siemensi, now kept in Berlin Museum. Archaeopteryx was a small bird about the size of a crow or pheasant, but with long lizard-like tail-bearing feathers. It exhibits both reptilian and avian (birds) features. If we compare and talk about characters of both, reptilian and avian, then this gives us a better understanding. So, let`s start... Reptilian Characters of Archaeopteryx 1. The skeletal bones are not pneumatic. 2. The jaws are provided with homodont reptilian type of teeth. 3. Vertebrae are articulated by simple concave facets (amphicoelous). 4. Cervical and thoracic ribs are single-headed and without uncinate processes.
