Page 176 - The Origin of Birds and Flight

174 The Origin of Birds and Flight

The recently discovered seventh specimen of Archaeopteryx preserves a
partial, rectangular sternum, long suspected but never previously
documented. This attests to its strong flight muscles, but its capacity
for long flights is questionable. 125
Alan Feduccia comments:
In conclusion, the robust furcula of Archæopteryx would have provided
a suitable point of origin for a well developed pectoralis muscle . . .
thus the main evidence for Archæopteryx having been a terrestrial,
cursorial predator is invalidated. There is nothing in the structure of
the pectoral girdle of Archæopteryx that would preclude its having been
a powered flier. 126
This discovery completely undermined any claims that
Archaeopteryx was a flightless half-bird.

Archaeopteryx’s feather structure
One of the most important evidence that Archaeopteryx was capable
of perfect flight is the asymmetrical structure of its feathers, identical to
those in modern birds. As the well- known paleontologist Carl O.
Dunbar stated, “Because of its feathers, [Archaeopteryx is] distinctly to be
classed as a bird.” 127 The paleontologist Robert Carroll issued the follow-
ing statement:
The geometry of the flight feathers of Archaeopteryx is identical with
that of modern flying birds, whereas nonflying birds have symmetrical
feathers. The way in which the feathers are arranged on the wing also
falls within the range of modern birds. . . According to Van Tyne and
Berger, the relative size and shape of the wing of Archaeopteryx are simi-
lar to that of birds that move through restricted openings in vegetation,
such as gallinaceous birds, doves, woodcocks, woodpeckers, and most
passerine birds. . . The flight feathers have been in stasis for at least 150
million years. . . . 128
Alan Feduccia also points to this asymmetric structure in stating
that Archaeopteryx was a flying bird: