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Natural Science Forum / Biology / Paleontology / December 2005New Archaeopteryx fossil
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8408 I'm surprised not to have seen any mention of this yet - reading the article my impression is that the animal does indeed sound very similar to Rahonavis. The importance of this discovery seems to be that Archaeopteryx might be better described as simply an early feathered dromoaeosaur rather than a bird. Philip Bowles > http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8408 > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Archaeopteryx might be better described as simply an early feathered > dromoaeosaur rather than a bird. What's the difference? "Bird" isn't a technical term. As an informal term, it usually means a flying theropod, and Archaeopteryx clearly could fly. It's also not a dromaeosaur but either avialan or avian, depending on which definition you like. The new specimen shows the genus to be primitive in a few ways we were not previously sure of, but none of this changes its phylogenetic position. >> http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8408 >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > to be primitive in a few ways we were not previously sure of, but none > of this changes its phylogenetic position. If it has feathers and uses them to fly... >>>http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8408 >>> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > If it has feathers and uses them to fly... If that's the criterion, Archaeopteryx is a bird regardless of where its hallux is. Some dromaeosaurs may be birds too, depending on just what you mean by "fly". Then again, ostriches aren't birds. >>>>http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8408 >>>> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > hallux is. Some dromaeosaurs may be birds too, depending on just what > you mean by "fly". Then again, ostriches aren't birds. But grandpa could. |
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