Rare Archaeopteryx fossil reveals new insights about earliest known birds

Scientists with The Chicago Field Museum They discovered that the fossil Archeopteryx of the size of the pigeon in its collection shows a number of features that are previously unknown when it comes to the earliest known bird, especially bird feathers, hands, feet and head.

Said Reuters That Fossil is one of the best preserved and most complete of 14 known fossils of samples identified since 1861.

First Archaeopteryx fossilwho showed the features of reptiles and birds, supported Charles Darwin’s ideas about evolution and showed that birds evolved from dinosaurs.

A new study managed to discern soft tissue in Chicago fossil Using UV lights, while CT scanning allowed scientists to see details still built into the rock. The study found that in 164 years after the first Archeopteryx fossil was discovered, more must be learned about the creature that flew over the Jurian period 150 million years ago.

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Anatomical features showed that although Archeopteryx could fly, he probably spent more time on the ground and may have climbed the trees.

Scientists noted that Fossil showed the presence of specialized feathers called tertials on both wings. Terrationals are attached to the bone of the humerus in the upper arm, and are also the inner feathers of the flight, the scientist explained.

Dinosaurus with small perfem, however, was missing the tetial. Researchers said the discovery of the inner wings of flight found in many birds today suggests that the Terrationals have evolved especially for flight.

“In order to create a lifting, the aerodynamic surface must be continuous with the body,” Paleontologist from the Jingmai O’Connor Museum Museum said. “So, in order to develop the flight using feathered wings, dinosaurs had to fill this gap, as we see in Archeopteryx.

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“Although we have studied Archeopteryx for over 160 years, so much basic information is still controversial. Is that a bird? Can this fly? The presence of a Terieny supports the interpretation that the answer to both of these questions is” yes, “O’Connor added.

When the fossil was fired, it was preserved three -dimensional, unlike the flat as many fossils. Scientists have been able to prepare soft tissue remains, and at the same time protecting them, and when it struck with ultraviolet light, the tissue shone.

The species also shows soft tissue on the hands, suggesting that the first and third fingers are mobile and could be used to climb. Soft tissue on the toes with toes led scientists to believe that Archeopteryx spent a lot of his life on Earth and had a limited flight ability.

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Other significant scientists have found the palate or the roof of the mouth, confirming that the skull Archeopteryx is immobile, unlike many living birds. But there is evidence of The first stages in the evolution Features that allows the beak to move independent of the brain, as can be seen in modern birds.

The fossil in Chicago has the only spinal column of Archaeopteryx, which includes two tiny vertebrae at the top of the tail, showing that there were a total of 24 vertebrae, one more than he had previously thought.

The museum was acquired by Fossil last year and said that he was in the hands of a series of private collectors since it was discovered just before 1990.

“This sample is likely The best archaeopteryx ever foundAnd we learn the tone of new things from that, “O’Connor said.

In March 2018, researchers suggested that Archeopteryx could probably fly, but in a different way from modern birds, in fast, short rush at short distances.

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Archeopteryx owned feathers, like a modern bird. However, he also owned a “long, stiff, fluttering tail” and teeth, along with the bones in his hands, shoulders and pelvis that were not connected.

Of the 12 Archeopteryx fossils found, the first in the late 19th century was discovered by the famous German paleontologist Hermann von Meyer. He discovered the latest amateur collector in 2010, announced in February 2014, and was scientifically described in 2018.

Reuters contributed to this report.