Cited by 156Paleontology and Evolutionary BiologyEvolution and Paleontology StudiesFossil Insects in Amber

Evidence from Claw Geometry Indicating Arboreal Habits of Archaeopteryx

Feduccia, Alan·1993·Science

Abstract

The Late Jurassic Archaeopteryx has been thought to have been a feathered predator adapted to running that represented a terrestrial stage in the evolution of true birds from coelurosaurian dinosaurs. Examination of claw geometry, however, shows that (i) modern ground- and tree-dwelling birds can be distinguished on the basis of claw curvature, in that greater claw arcs characterize tree-dwellers and trunk-climbers, and (ii) the claws of the pes (hind foot) and manus (front hand) of Archaeopteryx exhibit degrees of curvature typical of perching and trunk-climbing birds, respectively. On this basis, Archaeopteryx appears to have been a perching bird, not a cursorial predator.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.259.5096.790

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  • Analyses of pedal claw curvature lack consensus, which may at least partially reflect differences in how curvature is quantified.

    “Analyses of pedal claw curvature lack consensus, which may at least partially reflect differences in how curvature is quantified.”

    From The ecology of Archaeopteryx (2026) · cites this paper as [68]

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Authors
Feduccia, A.
Affiliations
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
Corresponding author
Feduccia, Alan
Venue
Science
Published
1993-02-05
Volume
259
Issue
5096
Pages
790-793
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2037267175
Cited by
156
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
FWCI
6.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Fossil Insects in Amber
Keywords
Archaeopteryx, arboreal behavior, Passeriformes, avian evolution, Late Jurassic

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