Archaeopteryx

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION: Aves

TIME PERIOD: Jurrasic

HABITAT: Coastal Regions

DESCRIPTION:

Unlike all the birds of today, Archaeopteryx had a full set of teeth, a rather flat sternum ( meaning "breastbone" ), a long, bony tail, belly ribs, and three claws on the wings which could have still been used to grasp prey or support while climbing trees. However, its feathers, wings and reduced fingers are all characteristics of modern birds.

Archaeopteryx certainly had feathers, though the question about whether these feathers were used for regulating its body temperature or for flight is an unsolved issue. Feathers may have originally evolved for the purpose of insulation and then been used for flight. The origin of flight by this 'bird', and the actual flight capabilities of it, are still unknown.

ITS PART IN EVOLUTION TABLE: It's the intermediate step between reptiles and birds.