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ark-ee-OP-ter-ix            ARCHAEOPTERYX                       [Ancient Wing]
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    In 1861, workmen at a quarry in Bavaria discovered what is probably the
most important of all fossils.  Trapped in a slab of rock was a delicate 
bird-like skeleton.  The Archaeopteryx lived over 120 million years ago during 
the Upper Jurassic Period and a clear impression of every feather on its body 
was left in the soft mud that became stone.
    Many parts of the Archaeopteryx were reptilian.  The bones of its tail, 
its eye sockets and its pelvis resembled those of reptiles.  The Archaeopteryx 
even had long curved teeth.  Yet, the feathers and wings certainly made it 
part bird.
    The Archaeopteryx was important to scientists. It has clearly shown the
evolution from bird-like dinosaurs (like the Compsognathus), to primitive
birds (like the Archaeopteryx).
    Most paleontologists today do not believe that modern birds are
direct descendants of the Archaeopteryx but of some other, yet undiscovered, 
primitive creature.
    The Archaeopteryx skeleton is very rare.  Only six have ever been found, 
all from the same area in Bavaria.  During the Upper Jurassic Period this part 
of Bavaria was the southern tip of an island that later formed part of modern 
day Europe.
    Most scientists do not believe that the Archaeopteryx could fly. Instead 
they think that its feathers were used for trapping body heat close to the 
skin during cool times.


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