archaeopteryx

ar·chae·op·ter·yx  (ärk-ptr-ks)

n.

An extinct primitive bird of the genus Archaeopteryx of the Jurassic Period, having lizardlike characteristics such as teeth and a long bony tail. It may represent a transitional form between dinosaurs and birds.

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[New Latin Archaeopteryx, genus name : archaeo- + Greek pterux, wing; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]

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archaeopteryx [ˌɑːkɪˈɒptərɪks]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) (Earth Sciences / Palaeontology) any of several extinct primitive birds constituting the genus Archaeopteryx, esp A. lithographica, which occurred in Jurassic times and had teeth, a long tail, well-developed wings, and a body covering of feathers

[from archaeo- + Greek pterux winged creature]

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archaeopteryx  (ärk-ptr-ks)

An extinct primitive bird of the genus Archaeopteryx of the Jurassic Period, having characteristics of both birds and dinosaurs. Like dinosaurs, it had a long, bony tail, claws at the end of its fingers, and teeth. Like birds it had wings and feathers. Many scientists regard it as evidence that birds evolved from small carnivorous dinosaurs. See Note at bird.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

archaeopteryx - extinct primitive toothed bird of the Jurassic period having a long feathered tail and hollow bones; usually considered the most primitive of all birds Archaeopteryx lithographica, archeopteryx bird - warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings genus Archaeopteryx, genus Archeopteryx - a genus of fossil birds