Archaeopteryx 'flew in bursts like a pheasant', scientists say

The winged Late Jurassic creature would take to the air in frenetic, flapping bounds, fossil x-rays showArchaeopteryx, one of life on Earth ’s first stabs at building a bird, evaded predators and cleared obstacles on the ground by bursting into flight like a startled pheasant, a new analysis suggests.High-resolution x-ray images of the creature ’s skeleton reveal tell-tale similarities with the bones of birds that cannot glide or soar but instead take to the air in frenetic, flapping bounds, scientists say.Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - March 13, 2018 Category: Science Authors: Ian Sample Science editor Tags: Archaeopteryx Science Dinosaurs Evolution Biology Fossils Zoology Palaeontology Source Type: news