Archaeopteryx and the First Birds

What happened

Archaeopteryx, from the Late Jurassic about 150 million years ago, had feathers and broad wings like a bird, but also teeth, clawed hands, and a long bony tail like a dinosaur. It is a classic transitional fossil.

Why it matters

Archaeopteryx is powerful evidence that birds evolved from small feathered theropod dinosaurs — meaning dinosaurs never truly went extinct, but live on as birds.

Sources

• Natural History Museum. Archaeopteryx · Reputable source