Archaeopteryx lithographica the First Bird

Archaeopteryx lithographica the First Bird

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This is a scaled down detailed sculpture of Archaeopteryx one of the most famous fossils in the world. Only about 10 complete and partial specimens have been found. The original fossil from which this specimen is based is 14.5 x 18 inches. (search item 52) This offering is scaled down to be 8.5 x 8.5 inches and comes with a display stand. Think of it as a baby Archaeopteryx.

What has reptilian teeth, a long bony tail, three clawed fingers on each forearm and...feathers? Archaeopteryx, of course. Sometimes referred to as the first bird we now understand Archaeopteryx to be part of a group related to the ancestors of modern birds. While Archaeopteryx had true feathers and could fly, the creature was mostly dinosaurian in form.

Fewer than ten skeletons of Archaeopteryx have ever been found. Of these, the most famous is on exhibit at the Humboldt University Museum of Natural History in Berlin. Found in 1877 in German's Solnhofen Limestone, the Berlin specimen remains the best preserved Archaeopteryx of those so far discovered. From the claws and feathers on the wings to the teeth in the tiny skull, the Berlin skeleton is a window on bird evolution.

We're proud to present an accurate replica of this famous skeleton. Of the many copies of the Berlin specimen available, few reflect the original's detail and color as well as our cast. (Compare the photos on this page of our replica to the original Berlin museum specimen on the Humboldt University web site at www.museum.hu-berlin.de).
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