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Comparative Study
. 2018 Mar 13;9(1):923.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03296-8.

Wing bone geometry reveals active flight in Archaeopteryx

Dennis F A E Voeten  1   2 , Jorge Cubo  3 , Emmanuel de Margerie  4 , Martin Röper  5   6 , Vincent Beyrand  7   8 , Stanislav Bureš  8 , Paul Tafforeau  7 , Sophie Sanchez  7   9
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Wing bone geometry reveals active flight in Archaeopteryx

Dennis F A E Voeten et al. Nat Commun. .

Abstract

Archaeopteryx is an iconic fossil taxon with feathered wings from the Late Jurassic of Germany that occupies a crucial position for understanding the early evolution of avian flight. After over 150 years of study, its mosaic anatomy unifying characters of both non-flying dinosaurs and flying birds has remained challenging to interpret in a locomotory context. Here, we compare new data from three Archaeopteryx specimens obtained through phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography to a representative sample of archosaurs employing a diverse array of locomotory strategies. Our analyses reveal that the architecture of Archaeopteryx's wing bones consistently exhibits a combination of cross-sectional geometric properties uniquely shared with volant birds, particularly those occasionally utilising short-distance flapping. We therefore interpret that Archaeopteryx actively employed wing flapping to take to the air through a more anterodorsally posteroventrally oriented flight stroke than used by modern birds. This unexpected outcome implies that avian powered flight must have originated before the latest Jurassic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Archaeopteryx humeral and ulnar virtual cross sections used in this study. a Right humerus and b right ulna of the ninth (Bürgermeister–Müller) specimen in lateral, respectively, medial view, with virtual sampling locations (red) and relative sampling locations in seventh (Munich) specimen (light blue) and fifth (Eichstätt) specimen (yellow). c–h Virtual cross sections, as preserved, with optimised intraosseous contrast, of (c) right humerus (H2) and (d) right ulna (U2) of ninth specimen, (e) right humerus and (f) right ulna of seventh specimen, and (g) left humerus and (h) left ulna of fifth specimen. i–n Reconstructed cross-sectional geometry, with optimised contrast of bone margins, of (i) humerus and (j) ulna of ninth specimen, (k) humerus and (l) ulna of seventh specimen, and (m) humerus and (n) ulna of fifth specimen; pure white indicates supplemented fragments. Morphological orientation applies to all sections (c–h). Scale bar (a, b) 10 mm; scale bars (c–n) 1 mm
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
LDA plot for specific archosaurian humeral and ulnar CA/TA and J/M. First and second linear discriminant axes are presented. Classification follows the locomotory divisions adapted from a Viscor et al. and b Close et al., non-pterosaurian flight strategies represent avian flight modes. Dots correspond to species, Archaeopteryx specimens plotted individually. Coloured hulls delimit groups with a minimum of three representatives; coloured ellipses link the members of groups with two representatives. Parameters labelled ¨_h¨ and ¨_u¨ in loading biplots designate humeral and ulnar affinity, respectively
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References

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