Why is the discovery of the fossil Archaeopteryx significant? It supports the
A) phylogenetic relatedness of birds and reptiles.
B) contention that birds are much older than we originally thought.
C) claim that some dinosaurs had feathers well before birds had evolved.
D) idea that the first birds were ratites.
E) hypothesis that the earliest birds were ectothermic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fossil Archaeopteryx is significant because it provides evidence for the phylogenetic relatedness of birds and reptiles. It has characteristics of both, such as feathers and bird-like skeletal features, but also teeth and a long tail like reptiles, supporting the idea that birds evolved from reptiles.

Why Is the Discovery of the Fossil Archaeopteryx Significant? It