How do fossils of the animal Archaeopteryx provide evidence that birds evolved from one group of dinosaurs?(1 point)

Responses

Fossils of Archeopteryx have traits that show they were better able to survive than dinosaurs but less able to survive than birds.
Fossils of , Archeopteryx, have traits that show they were better able to survive than dinosaurs but less able to survive than birds.

Fossils of Archaeopteryx are older than fossils of birds but younger than fossils of dinosaurs.
Fossils of , Archaeopteryx, are older than fossils of birds but younger than fossils of dinosaurs.

Fossils of Archaeopteryx have traits of both dinosaurs and birds.
Fossils of , Archaeopteryx, have traits of both dinosaurs and birds.

Fossils of Archeopteryx were discovered near fossils of both dinosaurs and birds.

Fossils of Archaeopteryx have traits of both dinosaurs and birds. This provides evidence that birds evolved from one group of dinosaurs, as Archaeopteryx is considered a transitional form between theropod dinosaurs and modern birds. The presence of both dinosaur and bird-like features in the fossil suggests that birds evolved from a group of dinosaurs that shared many similar traits with birds.

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The correct answer is:

Fossils of Archaeopteryx have traits of both dinosaurs and birds.

The correct response is: Fossils of Archaeopteryx have traits of both dinosaurs and birds.

To understand how fossils of Archaeopteryx provide evidence that birds evolved from one group of dinosaurs, we need to understand what Archaeopteryx is and the characteristics it possesses.

First, Archaeopteryx is considered a transitional fossil, meaning it shares characteristics of both dinosaurs and modern birds. It lived during the late Jurassic period, around 150-145 million years ago.

The traits observed in Archaeopteryx fossils provide evidence for the evolution of birds from dinosaurs:

1. Feathers: Archaeopteryx had feathers, which are a characteristic shared by modern birds. Feathers are unique structures found only in birds and some non-avian dinosaurs. The presence of feathers in Archaeopteryx suggests a close evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and birds.

2. Wings: Archaeopteryx had well-developed wings with flight feathers, indicating its ability to fly. This feature is critical in distinguishing birds from other dinosaur groups.

3. Dinosaur-like Traits: While Archaeopteryx had bird traits, it also retained several dinosaur-like characteristics. For example, it had a long, bony tail, teeth in its jaws, and claws on its wings. These traits are more similar to dinosaurs than modern birds.

4. Similar Skeletal Structure: The skeletal structure of Archaeopteryx is similar to that of theropod dinosaurs, a group of bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs. The presence of shared anatomical features, such as a certain arrangement of bones, suggests a common ancestry.

5. Intermediate Anatomy: In addition to the presence of both bird and dinosaur traits, the specific arrangement of these features in Archaeopteryx represents an intermediate stage between dinosaurs and birds. This supports the evolutionary hypothesis of birds descending from a lineage of theropod dinosaurs.

Overall, the combination of feathered wings, anatomical similarities, and intermediate features found in Archaeopteryx fossils supports the understanding that birds evolved from a specific group of dinosaurs.