Archaeopteryx

Archaeopteryx lithographica

Archaeopteryx is the iconic transitional fossil between non-avian dinosaurs and birds. It had feathered wings but also teeth, clawed fingers, and a bony tail. Only twelve specimens have been found, all from the Solnhofen limestone.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Human Scale
Length	0.5 m	smaller than a human child
Height	0.3 m	—
Weight	0 kg	lighter than a human adult

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Archaeopteryx was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Jurassic Late Mesozoic Era

Archaeopteryx lived during the Jurassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 161.5 to 145.0 million years ago.

One of the most iconic periods for dinosaurs. Giant sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus roamed alongside predators like Allosaurus. Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, appeared. The Morrison Formation preserves an extraordinary fossil record from this time.

Discovery & Naming

Named By	Hermann von Meyer
Discovery Year	1861
Discovery Location	Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany

Classification

Dinosauria → Saurischia → Theropoda → Archaeopteryx

Beast feet

Bipedal, mostly carnivorous dinosaurs that include the largest land predators ever to live. Theropods gave rise to modern birds. Ranges from tiny Compsognathus to massive Tyrannosaurus rex.

Size Comparison

At 0.5 meters long and 0.5 kg, Archaeopteryx was smaller than a human child and lighter than a human adult.

Other dinosaurs from the same period:

Afrovenator abakensis Alcmonavis poeschli Allosauridae Allosaurus (9.7m long, 3.5m tall, 2.3t) Allosaurus amplus Allosaurus anax

Quick Facts

Classification	Theropoda
Geologic Period	Jurassic Late
Diet	Carnivore
Size	0.5m long, 0.3m tall, 0.5kg

Related Dinosaurs

Allosaurus Jurassic Late

Anchiornis Jurassic Late

Carcharodontosaurus Cretaceous Early

Carnotaurus Cretaceous Late

Coelophysis Triassic Late

Compsognathus Jurassic Late

Cryolophosaurus Jurassic Early

Dilophosaurus Jurassic Early

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Archaeopteryx live?

Archaeopteryx lived during the Jurassic Late period (Mesozoic Era, 161.5–145.0 million years ago).

What did Archaeopteryx eat?

Archaeopteryx was a carnivore.

How big was Archaeopteryx?

Archaeopteryx was approximately 0.5 meters long, 0.3 meters tall, weighed around 0.5 kg.

When was Archaeopteryx discovered?

Archaeopteryx was first described in 1861 by Hermann von Meyer, with fossils found in Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany.

What type of dinosaur was Archaeopteryx?

Archaeopteryx belonged to the Theropoda group, which is part of the larger Saurischia clade.

Where were Archaeopteryx fossils found?

Fossils of Archaeopteryx were found in Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany.

What is the scientific name of Archaeopteryx?

The scientific name of Archaeopteryx is Archaeopteryx lithographica.

Compare with Similar Dinosaurs

Archaeopteryx vs Allosaurus Archaeopteryx vs Anchiornis Archaeopteryx vs Carcharodontosaurus

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