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A Well-Preserved Archaeopteryx Specimen with Theropod Features
Abstract
A nearly complete skeleton of Archaeopteryx with excellent bone preservation shows that the osteology of the urvogel is similar to that of nonavian theropod dinosaurs. The new specimen confirms the presence of a hyperextendible second toe as in dromaeosaurs and troodontids. Archaeopteryx had a plesiomorphic tetraradiate palatine bone and no fully reversed first toe. These observations provide further evidence for the theropod ancestry of birds. In addition, the presence of a hyperextendible second toe blurs the distinction of archaeopterygids from basal deinonychosaurs (troodontids and dromaeosaurs) and challenges the monophyly of Aves.
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We thank A. Manegold for discussions, S. Hwang for her data matrix, S. Tränkner for taking the photographs, F. F. Steininger for acting as an intermediary enabling us to study the fossil, D. Unwin for access to the Berlin specimen, and A. Elżanowski and two anonymous referees for comments on the manuscript.
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Published In
Science
Volume 310 | Issue 5753
2 December 2005
2 December 2005
Copyright
American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Submission history
Received: 19 September 2005
Accepted: 31 October 2005
Published in print: 2 December 2005
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