[ahr-kee-op-tuh-riks] 
| a reptilelike fossil bird of the genus Archaeopteryx, from the late Jurassic Period, having teeth and a long, feathered, vertebrate tail. |
| ar·chae·op·ter·yx (är'kē-ŏp'tər-ĭks) 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. [New Latin Archaeopteryx, genus name : archaeo- + Greek pterux, wing; see pet- in Indo-European roots.] |
| archaeopteryx (är'kē-ŏp'tər-ĭks) Pronunciation Key
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. |
kiˈɒp