Scientists amazed: This fossil of the earliest known bird holds the secrets of how dinosaurs evolved
A new fossil discovered has given scientists a sensational picture into how relatives of the dinosaurs evolved into modern day birds.
A recent study has provided compelling evidence that the first fossil feather ever discovered, found in 1861 near Solnhofen, Germany, indeed belonged to Archaeopteryx, a pivotal species in understanding the evolution of flight.
This isolated feather, long debated among palaeontologists, has been matched in size and shape to the primary feathers on the left wing of an Archaeopteryx specimen, known as the Altmühl specimen.
Lead study author Dr. Jingmai O’Connor, a palaeontologist and associate curator of fossil reptiles at the Field Museum, told CNN that “the bones are just exquisitely preserved in 3D; you really don’t see that in all the other specimens. We also have more fossilised soft tissues associated with our specimen than we’ve seen in any other individual.”
‘It was one ‘Wow!’ after another!’
Using painstaking imaging techniques across thousands of hours, researchers identified melanosomes—pigment-containing structures—within the feather, indicating it was entirely matte black. “It was one ‘Wow!’ after another!”
“This is one of the most important macroevolutionary transitions in Earth’s life history, because this gives rise to the group of dinosaurs that not only survives the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, but then becomes the most diverse group of land vertebrates on our planet today. So this is a very, very important moment in evolution“, O’Connor concluded.
Dr. Susan Chapman, an associate professor in the department of biological sciences at Clemson University in South Carolina said that “the preparators of the Chicago Archaeopteryx did an outstanding job of preserving not just the bone structure, but also the soft tissue impressions. Because of their care, this near complete specimen provides never-before-understood insights into this transitional fossil from theropod dinosaurs to birds.”
This coloration likely contributed to the feather’s structural integrity, aiding in flight. The feather’s discovery site is very close to several other Archaeopteryx skeletons, further supporting its attribution to this species.
Archaeopteryx, dating back approximately 150 million years to the Late Jurassic period, exhibits a blend of avian and reptilian features. It possessed feathers, wings, and a wishbone remarkably similar to modern birds, alongside teeth and a long bony tail characteristic of non-avian dinosaurs.
These findings reinforce the significance of Archaeopteryx as a transitional species, bridging the gap between non-avian dinosaurs and modern birds.
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