Why is Archaeopteryx in the theory of evolution?

Answer 1

Well, if you look at the skeleton of a modern bird, you will see that it has many similarities with small bipedal theropods such as Coelurus and Compsognathus. For examle, many theropods have hollow bones and even wishbones, a unique feature to birds. Also many species are covered head to toe in feathers! The unique fossilization process that allows such detail to be preserved is found the most in Liaoning, China, where most of the known feathered dinosaurs have been found. My theory is that a small, possibly tree living Coelurosaurid theropod branched out into the group Paraves (Eumaniraptora), the family that includes birds and Deinonychosaurs such as Velociraptor. All this group are very similar anatomically. The first certain bird, Archaeopteryx, shared many features with both birds and dinosaurs. It is used for the basis for bird evolution, and although another, Protoavis, evolved earlier, it is not yet agreed to be a true bird and is thought to be a chimera (Mix of two or more animals fossilized together and viewed as the same creature)

Answer 2

Traditionally archaeopteryx is considered the first bird. However as more recent findings show that it was one of many avian dinosaurs. The birds are now considered by many scientist as avian dinosaurs.

Answer 3

Archaeopteryx indicate the evolution of birds from reptiles as: feathers (bird characteristic), teeth (not present in today's birds but are typical in reptiles), and a tail with vertebrae (reptilian characteristic).

Answer 4

Archaeopteryx is not a part of evolutionary theory. It is merely one example of a transitional form, in this case between derived theropods and early birds. That does not necessarily mean that it is ancestral to modern birds: Archaeopteryx may well belong to an extinct side branch of the lineage that eventually lead to birds. But its morphological characteristics do make Archaeopteryx a good example of what an ancestor to modern birds would have looked like.

Answer 5

Although the Archaeopteryx was a creature in between a reptile and a bird, scientists consider it to be a bird, because it had feathers.

Answer 6

because they have feathers, wings, talons, they build nests, and that's why

Answer 7

Birds evolved from maniraptoran dinosaurs 160 million years ago. So birds descended from dinosaurs.