[[Image:{{Taxonomy|name=Archaeopteryx|image=Archaeopteryx1.jpg|300pxcaption=|thumbdomain=Eukaryota|rightkingdom=Animalia|subkingdom=Bilateria|''branch=Deuterostomia |superphylum=|phylum=Chordata|subphylum=Vertebrata|infraphylum=Gnathostomata |microphylum=|superdivision=|division=|subdivision=|superclass=Tetrapoda|class=Aves|subclass=|infraclass=|superorder=|order=Archaeopterygiformes|suborder=|infraorder=|superfamily=|family=Archaeopterygidae|subfamily=|supertribe=|tribe=|subtribe=|genera=|genus=Archaeopteryx |subgenus=|species=A. lithographica<br/>A. macrura<br/>A. recurva<br/>A. siemensii|binomialname=|sub=|alt=|regionimg=|pop=|conservation=Extinct}}'', the Berlin specimen found in 1877 near Eichstätt, Germany; currently displayed at the Humbolt Museum für Naturkunde]]'''Archaeopteryx''' is a theoretical '', an extinct [[bird]] based on known from a few small number of [[fossil]] fragments. This theoretical bird ized remains found in southern Germany, is sometimes presented as evidence of evolution because the bones have some characteristics reminiscent of claimed by [[reptileevolution]]s, making it appear ary biologists to be the first species of bird to appear on Earth,<ref>[http://www.discovery.org/a/1106 "Archaeopteryx is the oldest bird in the fossil record." - John Wells]</ref> as well as a so-called "[[transitional" form ]]" between reptiles and birds.
There are two criticisms of the ''Archaeopteryx''. One criticism The first is that the fossil fragments fossils are fraudulent. Another criticism an elaborate hoax as claimed by the British astronomer and physicist, Sir [[Fred Hoyle]]; the second is that even if Archaeopteryx existed, it was ''Archaeopterix'' is a true bird , and not a transitional form suggesting evolution.
Only 7 specimens suggesting the existence ==Description==''Archaeopterix'' was roughly crow-sized, with an over-all body length of Archaeopteryx have been presented18 inches.<ref>http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/archaeopteryx/info.html#specimens</ref> The source Discounting the feather impressions in some of the fossil specimens seems unlikely: six came from Germany and one from England, where the highest prices could be obtained on auction from evolutionists''Archaeopterix'' had a build generally-similar to that of a small theropod dinosaur, and none from anywhere else in with the worldspecies ''Compsognathus'' cited. Two of those Both wings ended in Germany came from the same familythree-fingered claws. The tail was long, 16 years apart, who were amateur collectorsfeathered on either side. A third specimen is missing and has not been seen in years. Still more specimens lack much detail and Evidence that the legs were initially described feathered as other species. Frauds well was shown in Germany and England in connection with evolution claims (e.g.the Berlin specimen as recently as 1880, [[Piltdown Man]]) were commonprior to that fossil's preservation.
In 1983The bill, a half-dozen leading [[British]] scientists including [[Fred Hoyle|Sir Fred Hoyle]] carefully studied the two best Archaeopteryx specimenslike modern birds, front and back, and declared them to be fakes.<ref>Sarfati, 2000</ref> They discovered that the front and back slabs was capable of each specimen do not match.<ref>British Journal of Photography (March-June 1985).</ref><ref>W.J. Broad, "Authenticity of Bird Fossil is Challenged," N.Y. Times C1, C14 (May 7, 1985).</ref><ref>T. Nield, "Feathers Fly Over Fossil 'Fraud'," New Scientist 1467:49-50.</ref><ref>G. Vines, "Strange Case of Archaeopteryx 'Fraud'," New Scientist 1447:3.</ref> They found that an alteration had been made to the left wing as depicted independent movement in an 1863 drawing.<ref>See references ''supra''.</ref> They concluded that both the feather markings had been imprinted by hand.<ref>See references ''supra''.</ref> They also found that etching process had used cement blobs.<ref>See references ''supra''.</ref> When the scientists requested the ability to use an electronic microscope upper and carbon-14 datinglower jaws; unlike modern birds, the museum refused and withdrew the specimens from the scientists.<ref>See references ''supra''.</ref> The same [[British]] Museum had been responsible for the [[Piltdown Man]] fraudboth jaws were studded with small teeth.
The second criticism of hip bones are fully-formed and bird-like, i.e. the pubic bone points to the Archaeopteryxrear, that it is not unlike theropod dinosaurs (which had a transitional form even if it did existforward-pointing pubic bone) from which evolution claims an ancestry. Despite this contradiction, has been strengthened by some authorities prefer to place ''Archaeopterix'' within the work of anatomist Dr. David Mentonorder Avetheropoda, which includes such theropods as [[Tyrannosaurus|''Tyrannosaurus rex'']] and ''[[Spinosaurus]]''<ref>http://www.answersingenesispaleodb.org/homecgi-bin/area/bios/d_mentonbridge.asppl?a=basicTaxonInfo&taxon_no=55483</ref> suggesting that Archaeopteryx is a true bird with flight feathers, not a transitional form at all. In 1994, an article explained that the Archaeopteryx was essentially that of a flying bird, with a large cerebellum and visual cortex. 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 reptiles, only the mandible moves.<ref name="cw94" />
== Evidence for evolution? ==All known fossils - approximately thirteen - were found in the Solenhofen limestone formation of southern Bavaria, Germany.
== Criticism ==
===Fraud dispute===
====Charges of fraud====
In 1983, a half-dozen leading [[British]] scientists led by noted British [[Fred Hoyle|Radio-astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle]] carefully studied the plates and counter-plates from the two best ''Archaeopteryx'' specimens, and found evidence of forgery.<ref>Sarfati, 2000</ref> They discovered that the front and back slabs of each specimen do not match.<ref name="four">British Journal of Photography (March–June 1985).<br />W.J. Broad, "Authenticity of Bird Fossil is Challenged," N.Y. Times C1, C14 (May 7, 1985).<br />T. Nield, "Feathers Fly Over Fossil 'Fraud'," New Scientist 1467:49-50.<br />G. Vines, "Strange Case of Archaeopteryx 'Fraud'," New Scientist 1447:3.</ref>
They found that an alteration had been made to the left wing as depicted in an 1863 drawing.<ref name="four" />
They concluded that the feather markings had been imprinted by hand.<ref name="four" />
They also found that etching process had used cement blobs.<ref name="four" />
When the scientists requested the ability to use an electronic microscope and carbon-14 dating, the museum refused and withdrew the specimens from the scientists.<ref name="four" />
The same [[British]] Museum had been responsible for the [[Piltdown Man]] fraud.
====Assertions of authenticity====
Scientists who have since inspected the London ''Archaeopteryx'' and other specimens have conlcuded these fossils are not forgeries.<ref>Charig et al. 1986. Archaeopteryx is not a forgery. Science 232: 622-626</ref> In particular, the found the feathers on the Maxburg fossil continue underneath the bones - precluding the possibility of them being added to a reptile fossil, tiny fractures that could not have been seen at the time of Archaeopteryx's discovery matched in the plate and counter-plate and the 'blobs' cited by Hoyle are also have matching impressions on the counter plate (suggesting they weren't added). The evidence that ''Archaeopteryx'' is not a fraud is so strong that creationist site [[Answers in Genesis]] suggests creationists don't use this argument <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/get-answers/topic/arguments-we-dont-use</ref>
===Not a transitional===
The second criticism of the ''Archaeopteryx'', that it is not a transitional form, has been strengthened by the work of anatomist Dr. David Menton<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/bios/d_menton.asp</ref> suggesting that ''Archaeopteryx'' is a true bird with flight feathers, not a transitional form at all. In 1994, an article explained that the ''Archaeopteryx'' was essentially a flying bird, with a large [[cerebellum]] and [[visual cortex]]. 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 (the South American [[hoatzin]], ''Opisthocomus hoazin'', also shares with ''Archaeopteryx'' clawed digits in its wings, albeit as juveniles).
== Evidence for evolution? ==
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>Feduccia, 1993</ref>
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>Wyoming Dinosaur Center.</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.
The brain == Specimens ==There are currently only thirteen known specimens of ''Archaeopteryx'' was essentially that of a flying bird.<ref>Wikipedia claims an eleventh specimen, with a large cerebellum but only lists ten.</ref>All were allegedly found in the limestone of the [[Solnhofen]] area in Germany and visual cortexhave not been substantiated by any discovery anywhere else in the world.<ref name="cw94CFM">WielandMagovern</ref>{| class="wikitable"! Image || Specimen || When found || Location found || People involved || Current location || Comments|-| [[File:ArchaeopterixFeather.jpg|100px]] || Feather<ref name="CN">Nedlin, 19941999 (The TalkOrigins Archive)</ref>|| 1860 || Near Solnhofen || Described by H. von Meyer || Humboldt Museum für Naturkunde in [[Berlin]] || Single feather only.Critics point out that its teeth are irrelevant to its alleged transitional status|-| [[File:ArchaeopteryxLondon.JPG|100px]] || London specimen<ref name="CFM" /><ref name="CN" /> || 1861 || Near Langenaltheim || Announced by H. v Meyer || [[British Museum of Natural History]], [[London]] || Missing the head and neck; detailed feather impressions.|-| [[File:Archaeopteryx1.jpg|100px]] || Berlin specimen<ref name="CFM" /><ref name="CN" /> || 1877 || Near Blumenberg || Described by W. Dames || Humboldt Museum für Naturkunde || The most complete specimen|-| [[File:ArchaeopterixMaxberg.jpg|100px]] || Maxberg specimen<ref name="CFM" /><ref name="CN" /> || 1958 || Near Langenaltheim || Found and owned by Eduard Opitsch || Maxberg Museum; currently lost or stolen || Torso, wings, and feather impressions|-| [[File:ArchaeopterixHaarlem.jpg|100px]] || Haarlem Specimen<ref name="CFM" /><ref name="CN" /> || 1855 || Near Riedenburg || Described by H. von Meyer || Teylers Museum, [[Haarlem]] || Not classified as a number ''Archaeopteryx'' until 1970. Remains of extinct birds had teethwing claws and leg bones.|-| [[File:ArchaeopteryxEichstätt.jpg|100px]] || Eichstätt Specimen<ref name="CFM" /><ref name="CN" /> || 1951 || Near Workerszell || Described by Peter Wellnhofer || Jura Museum, while many reptiles do not[[Eichstätt]] || Smallest specimen|-| [[File:ArchaeopteryxSolenhofen.jpg|100px]] || Solnhofen Specimen<ref name="cw94CFM" /><ref name="CN" /> || 1960s || Near Eichstätt || Described by Wellnhofer || Bürgermeister-Müller-Museum in Solnhofen || Nearly complete; no feather impressions.Furthermore|-| [[File:ArchaeopterixMunich.jpg|100px]] || Munich specimen or Solnhofen-Aktien-Verein specimen<ref name="CFM" /><ref name="CN" /> || 1992 || Near Langenaltheim || Described by Wellnhofer || Paläontologisches Museum München, [[Munich]] || First specimen to be found with an intact sternum, proving ''Archaeopteryx'' was capable of powered flight like other modern birds, both its maxilla |-| [[File:Archaeopteryx (upper jawDaiting Specimen) and mandible .jpg|100px]] || Daiting specimen || 1990 || Near Daiting || || || The youngest specimen|-| [[File:Archaeopteryx (lower jawChicken Wing) moved.In most vertebrates, including many reptilesjpg|100px]] || Bürgermeister-Müller specimen || 2000 || || || Bürgermeister-Müller Museum, Solnhofen || Single wing only the mandible moves|-| [[File:ArchaeopterixThermopolis.jpg|100px]] || Thermopolis specimen<ref >The Wyoming Dinosaur Center</ref><ref>Hartman, 2005</ref> || || || Described by Mayr, Pohl, and Peters || Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, [[Wyoming]] || Had been privately owned in Switzerland|-| [[File:Archaeopteryx lithographica - 11 specimen.jpg|100px]] || ''no namegiven yet''<ref>http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/paleontologists-unveil-the-11th-archaeopteryx-112131580/?no-ist="cw94" </ref>|| || || || || Currently studied by Paleontologists of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet.|-| || ''no name given yet'' || 2010 || Near Altmannstein<ref>http://www.donaukurier.de/nachrichten/bayern/Schamhaupten-Der-naechste-Archaeopteryx;art155371,2880263</ref> || || || |}
== Bibliography ==
* Anon., [http://www.wyodino.org/research/?item=archaeopteryx ''Archaeopteryx'': The Thermopolis Specimen] The Wyoming Dinosaur Center
* Bakalar, Nicholas, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1201_051201_archaeopteryx.html Earliest Bird Had Feet Like Dinosaur, Fossil Shows], National Geographic News, 1 December, 2005
* Feduccia, A., "Evidence from Claw Geometry Indicating Arboreal Habits of Archaeopteryx," ''Science'', 259(5096):790-793, February 5, 1993 ([http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0036-8075%2819930205%293%3A259%3A5096%3C790%3AEFCGIA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-1 abstract])
* [[Duane Gish|Gish, Duane]], [httphttps://www.icr.org/article/321/ As a Transitional Form Archaeopteryx Won't Fly] ''Impact'', September 1, 1989* Hartman, Scott, [http://skeletaldrawing.com/Archaeopteryx/archaeo.htm Clarification statement on Thermopolis specimen] 1 December 2005 (The Wyoming Dinosaur Center).* Magovern, Charlie and Florence, [http://www.stonecompany.com/fossils/casts/archaeopteryx/data.html Archaeopteryx]* Nedlin, Chris, [http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/archaeopteryx/info.html#specimens All About Archaeopteryx], 1999 (The TalkOrigins Archive)
* [[Jonathan Sarfati|Sarfati, Jonathan]], [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3653 Archaeopteryx (unlike Archaeoraptor) is NOT a hoax—it is a true bird, not a “missing link”], Creation Ministries International, March 24, 2000
* Sarfati, Jonathan, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3833/106/ Bird evolution?], Chapter 4 of ''Refuting Evolution''.
* [[Carl Wieland|Wieland, Carl]], [http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v1/i1/archaeopteryx.asp Archaeopteryx], ''Creation'' 1(1):12–16, June 1978.
* Wieland, Carl, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/909/ Bird evolution flies out the window], ''Creation'' 16(4):16–19, September 1994
==See also==
*[[Feathered dinosaurs]]
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Evolution]][[Category:Extinct animalsAnimals]][[Category:Theory of Evolution and Cases of Fraud, Hoaxes and Speculation]][[Category:Birds]][[Category:Extinct Birds]]