Changes

''Archaeopteryx'' is often presented as evidence of evolution because the bones have some characteristics reminiscent of [[reptile | reptiles]] including teeth and incomplete evolution of the wing structure{{fact}}, making it appear to be a [[transitional form]] between reptiles and birds.  

''Archaeopteryx'' is often presented as evidence of evolution because the bones have some characteristics reminiscent of [[reptile | reptiles]] including teeth and incomplete evolution of the wing structure{{fact}}, making it appear to be a [[transitional form]] between reptiles and birds.  

The criticism of the ''Archaeopteryx'' as a transitional form has been strengthened by the work of Creationist anatomist Dr. David Menton[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/bios/d_menton.asp] suggesting that ''Archaeopteryx'' was a true bird with flight feathers, not a transitional form at all.

The criticism of the ''Archaeopteryx'' as a transitional form has been strengthened by the work of creationary anatomist Dr. David Menton[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/bios/d_menton.asp] suggesting that ''Archaeopteryx'' was a true bird with flight [[feather]]s, not a transitional form at all.

In 1993, an article was published in ''Science'' magazine arguing that the ''Archaeopteryx'' had fully formed flying feathers (including asymmetric vanes and ventral, reinforcing furrows as in modern flying birds), the classical elliptical wings of modem woodland birds, and a large wishbone for attachment of muscles responsible for the downstroke of the wings<ref>A. Feduccia, "Evidence from Claw Geometry Indicating Arboreal Habits of Archaeopteryx," Science, 259(5096):790-793, February 5, 1993.</ref>

In 1993, an article was published in ''Science'' magazine arguing that the ''Archaeopteryx'' had fully-formed flying feathers (including asymmetric vanes and ventral, reinforcing furrows as in modern flying birds), the classical elliptical wings of modem woodland birds, and a large wishbone for attachment of muscles responsible for the downstroke of the wings<ref>A. Feduccia, "Evidence from Claw Geometry Indicating Arboreal Habits of Archaeopteryx," Science, 259(5096):790-793, February 5, 1993.</ref>

While most evolution scientists agree that the flight feathers of ''Archaeopteryx'' were essentially modern, several papers since have refuted Feduccia's claims about the anatomy of ''Archaeopteryx''<ref>"The tenth skeletal specimen of Archaeopteryx," ''Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,'' 149:97-116, 2007.</ref>  Specimens such as the Thermoplis Specimen <ref>www.wyodino.org</ref> are thought to clearly show that the arms, wishbone, tail, feet, hips, and palate of ''Archaeopteryx'' were more like meat-eating theropod dinosaurs than modern birds.

While most evolutionary scientists agree that the flight feathers of ''Archaeopteryx'' were essentially modern, several papers since have argued against Feduccia's claims about the anatomy of ''Archaeopteryx''<ref>"The tenth skeletal specimen of Archaeopteryx," ''Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,'' 149:97-116, 2007.</ref>  Specimens such as the Thermoplis Specimen <ref>www.wyodino.org</ref> are thought to clearly show that the arms, wishbone, tail, feet, hips, and palate of ''Archaeopteryx'' were more like meat-eating theropod dinosaurs than modern birds.

In 1994, a Christian publication stated that the brain of an ''Archaeopteryx'' was essentially that of a flying bird, with a large cerebellum and visual cortex. The article argued that the fact that it had teeth is irrelevant to its alleged transitional status -- a number of extinct birds had teeth, while many reptiles do not. Furthermore, like other birds, both its maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) moved. In most vertebrates, including many reptiles, only the mandible moves.<ref>D. Mentonand C. Wieland, "Bird Evolution Flies out the window," Creation Ex Nihilo, 16(4):16-19, September-November 1994.</ref>

The brain of ''Archaeopteryx'' was essentially that of a flying bird, with a large cerebellum and visual cortex. The article argued that the fact that it had teeth is irrelevant to its alleged transitional status -- a number of extinct birds had teeth, while many reptiles do not. Furthermore, like other birds, both its maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) moved. In most vertebrates, including many reptiles, only the mandible moves.<ref>D. Mentonand C. Wieland, "Bird Evolution Flies out the window," Creation Ex Nihilo, 16(4):16-19, September-November 1994.</ref>

Many of these arguements were recently refuted when CT scans of an ''Archaeopteryx'' braincase was compared to the brains of modern and more advanced fossil birds.  It was demonstrated that the brain of ''Archaeopteryx'' is not like modern birds.  Instead, the authors concluded that like its ankle, feet, and skull, the brain or ''Archaeopteryx'' is more like predatory dinosaurs than modern birds. <ref> Kurochkin, et al. "A fossil brain from the Cretaceous of European Russia and avian sensory evolution," The Royal Society Biology Letters, http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/(ovrnzmfyck1pbxfhjrjtxxeo)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,3,33;journal,1,11;linkingpublicationresults,1:110824,1 </ref> This suggests that ''Archaeopteryx'' does indeed represent an evolutionary missing link.

Many of these arguements were recently refuted when CT scans of an ''Archaeopteryx'' braincase was compared to the brains of modern and more advanced fossil birds.  It was demonstrated that the brain of ''Archaeopteryx'' is not like modern birds.  Instead, the authors concluded that like its ankle, feet, and skull, the brain or ''Archaeopteryx'' is more like predatory dinosaurs than modern birds. <ref> Kurochkin, et al. "A fossil brain from the Cretaceous of European Russia and avian sensory evolution," The Royal Society Biology Letters, http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/(ovrnzmfyck1pbxfhjrjtxxeo)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,3,33;journal,1,11;linkingpublicationresults,1:110824,1 </ref> This suggests that ''Archaeopteryx'' does indeed represent an evolutionary missing link.

*[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3833/106/ Refuting Evolution, Bird evolution?] by [[Jonathan Sarfati]], Ph.D., F.M.

*[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3833/106/ Refuting Evolution, Bird evolution?] by [[Jonathan Sarfati]], Ph.D., F.M.

*[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1201_051201_archaeopteryx.html Earliest Bird Had Feet Like Dinosaur, Fossil Shows]

*[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1201_051201_archaeopteryx.html Earliest Bird Had Feet Like Dinosaur, Fossil Shows]

==References==

==References==