Question

What is the significance of Archaeopteryx in organic evolution?

Answer 1

Archaeopteryx was a fossil which was first discovered in 1861. It provides paleontological evidence to support organic evolution. It was a controversial fossil which had features of both reptiles such as dinosaur and a bird.

Step by step answer: Approximately 150 million ago in the region of Western Europe, Archaeopteryx was used to live. Its size was between 16 and 24 inches. Its fossil was found in limestone deposits in Germany. It had features of both reptiles and birds. It had feathers and wings like birds but its skeleton was more close to a reptile, dinosaur. The front limbs of the Archaeopteryx were held out by long upper arm bones, long feathers along with its wings, but it lacked the proper muscles for flight. Present-day birds have a breastbone with strong flight muscles that the Archaeopteryx did not have. Another specific feature of the Archaeopteryx was its claws. It had three-toed claws like present-day birds, but the first toes were reversed so that it could grasp on perch on branches. It also possessed teeth in the mouth and bones in the tail called caudal vertebrae. But birds typically do not have Teeth or tail bones. The teeth were small and like a spike which were suitable for eating small animals such as insects, worms, and lizards.
Based on the features possessed by Archaeopteryx , Scientists believed that this is a connecting link between reptiles and birds.

Note: Most researchers do agree that the first bird was descended from Archaeopteryx. This provides fossil evidence for organic evolution that birds evolved from the reptiles.