Ritorno
longrich_etal_thefeathersofthejurassicurvogelarchaeopteryx_revision_c_0
Capitolo di libro

The Feathers of the Jurassic Urvogel Archaeopteryx

DOKPE

  • 2020
Pubblicato in:
  • The Evolution of Feathers. - Springer International Publishing. - 2020, p. 119-146
Archaeopteryx
Avialae
Plumage
Feathers
Paraves
Morphology
inglese The Jurassic stem bird Archaeopteryx is an iconic transitional fossil, with an intermediate morphology combining features of non-avian dinosaurs and crown Aves. Importantly, fossils of Archaeopteryx preserve not only the bones, but details of the plumage, and therefore help shed light on the evolution of feathers, wings, and avian flight. Plumage is preserved in multiple individuals, allowing a detailed documentation of the feathers of the wings, tail, hindlimbs, and body. In some features Archaeopteryx’ plumage is remarkably modern, yet in others, it is strikingly primitive. As in extant birds, remiges and coverts are enlarged and overlap to form airfoils. Remiges and rectrices exhibit asymmetrical, pennaceous vanes, with interlocking barbules. In contrast to crown birds, remiges have relatively slender rectrices, and differ in the development of coverts. Hindlimbs bear large, vaned feathers as in Microraptor and Anchiornis. Rectrices are numerous and extend the full length of the tail to the hips. The plumage of crown Aves was assembled in a stepwise fashion from Anchiornis through Archaeopteryx, culminating in a modern arrangement in ornithothoracines. Subsequent stasis in feather and wing morphology likely reflects aerodynamic and developmental constraints. Feather morphology and arrangement in Archaeopteryx are consistent with lift-generating function, and the wing loading and aspect ratio are comparable to modern birds, consistent with gliding and perhaps flapping flight. The plumage of Archaeopteryx is intermediate between Anchiornis and more derived Pygostylia, suggesting a degree of flight ability intermediate between the two.
Facoltà
Faculté des sciences et de médecine
Dipartimento
Département de Géosciences
Lingua
  • inglese
Classificazione
Paleontology
Licenza
Diritti riservati
Statuto Open Access
green
Identificatori
URL persistente
https://sonar.ch/unifr/documents/325282
Statistiche
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