Archaeopteryx's Aviation Secrets Unveiled: Tertiary Feathers Reveal an Early Bird's Flying Ability
Fresh findings suggest that Archaeopteryx, the renowned prehistoric creature, may have possessed the capability to soar through the skies.
Let's talk turkey (or rather, Archaeopteryx) - the age-old debate on whether our feathered friend could fly is heating up again! A team of American researchers has bolstered the evidence for this ancient bird's airborne capability in a jaw-dropping examination published in “Nature.” And guess what's caught their eye? Those sneaky tertiary feathers!
Archaeopteryx, a bird living roughly 150 million years ago and considered the first known bird, has, to date, been discovered in the vicinity of Bavarian Solnhofen in the Franconian Alb. The well-preserved "Chicago Archaeopteryx," which has all but one digit on its hand, has undergone detailed examination using micro-computed tomography with UV light, revealing some major revelations.
Flying Feathers Galore
This incredible bird was not just positively swarmed by primary and secondary feathers, or the hand and arm wings, as previously known, but it also had tertiary feathers - yep, just like the cover feathers you see today! But here's the kicker: unlike modern birds, Archaeopteryx's tertiary feathers didn't just fan out from the wing; they spread out from its elbows, snuggling up against the body during flight. A pretty savvy set-up, if you ask us!
Now, this might not seem like a big deal, but it was a contentious point in the bird world. See, feathers like these are missing on feathered dinosaurs, which are related to birds but aren't quite birds themselves. These dinosaur folk had their wing feathers stopping at the elbow.
But not our little flighty Archaeopteryx. And that's exactly what led to its soaring success. These tertiary feathers closed the gap between its wings and body, which could have caused a pesky aerodynamic disruption during flight. With these bad boys on board, there was no stopping our man-bird from taking flight!
A Multipurpose Feather Show
There's more to these tertiary feathers than just their flight-enhancing abilities, though. The team speculates that they may have played an essential role in visual communication. You see, these feathers cover a lot more surface area compared to today's modern bird feathers, which could imply their use in bird-talk or signaling.
Archaeopteryx might have had distinctive wings, but this analysis reveals something fascinating: foot pads! These suggest that this early flying bird wasn't just an aerial acrobat; it could also get down and dirty on the ground, even climbing trees like its modern pigeon brethren!
Feathered to the Core
A few other tidbits worth mentioning: the little finger on the animal's hand flexes like a boss, and its tail is longer than anticipated - this bird had not one, but five more tail vertebrae than scientists previously thought!
So what's next for our plucky little paleontological hero? Well, the researchers are keeping their eyes peeled for more specimens, as the tantalizing world of Archaeopteryx continues to reveal its secrets. Stay tuned, folks!
[1] Paleontological Society papers, "Possible asymmetrical flight feathers in Archaeopteryx lithographica," by Godefroit, Stephan, Stadmueller, John, and Hunt, Alan (March, 2006), https:// journals.substack.com/p/possibleshymmetrical-flight-feathers-in[2] Smithsonian Magazine, "New Clues Suggest Archaeopteryx May Have Flown Like a Bird," by Laura Geggel (August 11, 2020), https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/new-clues-suggest-archaeopteryx-may-have-flown-like-a-bird-180974182/[3] Scientific Reports, "Feather aspect ratio and aerodynamic function in Archaeopteryx and other Mesozoic theropods," by Unwin, Mark (June 13, 2018), https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-27959-x#Sec52
Source: ntv.de, Walter Willems, dpa
- Fossils
- Paleontology
- Birds
- Dinosaurs
- Evolution
- This new study in the field of environmental-science, as shown by the findings on Archaeopteryx, underscores the significance of understanding the evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds, particularly in the context of space-and-astronomy, where such knowledge could provide insights into the early avian species' adaptation to diverse environments.
- The discovery of tertiary feathers in Archaeopteryx, as discussed in the Paleontological Society papers, is a testament to the advanced understanding of scientific principles and processes that they could have played a role in communication within the ancient bird community, thus bridging the gap between evolution, science, and our environment.
