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Chicago Archaeopteryx Fossil Confirms Earliest Dinosaur Capable of Powered Flight

A new study reveals unprecedented anatomical details from the Field Museum’s meticulously prepared specimen, reshaping understanding of early avian evolution.

A fossil of the Jurassic bird Archaeopteryx, which lived about 150 million years ago in what is now Germany, is pictured under UV light to show soft tissues alongside the skeleton, in the collection of the Field Museum in Chicago, in this undated photograph. Delaney Drummond/Field Museum/Handout via REUTERS NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY
A life reconstruction of the Jurassic bird Archaeopteryx, which lived about 150 million years ago in what is now Germany, including its tertial feathers that would have helped it fly, is seen in this undated image released by the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Michael Rothman/Handout via REUTERS NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY

Overview

  • The Field Museum’s Archaeopteryx specimen, acquired in 2022, is the first to undergo a complete CT scan, with data now publicly available for further research.
  • UV light and advanced preparation techniques uncovered soft tissues and skeletal details, including long tertial feathers crucial for powered flight.
  • The fossil confirms Archaeopteryx as the earliest known dinosaur capable of flight, bridging the evolutionary gap between non-avian dinosaurs and modern birds.
  • Key findings include evidence of early cranial kinesis, aiding beak flexibility, and soft tissue adaptations suggesting ground locomotion and potential climbing abilities.
  • The study, published in *Nature*, highlights the specimen’s exceptional preservation and its significance in understanding the evolution of flight and avian traits.