Archaeopteryx is connecting link because : [BHU 82]a)It possessed char...
Archaeopteryx is connecting link because : [BHU 82]a)It possessed char...
Archaeopteryx is a connecting link because:
Archaeopteryx is considered a connecting link between reptiles and birds due to its possession of characters from both groups. Here's an explanation of why option 'A' is the correct answer:
1. Possession of reptilian characters:
- Archaeopteryx had certain reptilian characteristics that suggest its reptilian ancestry.
- It had teeth, which is a feature typically found in reptiles and not in modern birds.
- The bones of its tail were unfused, similar to reptiles, allowing for greater mobility.
- It had claws on its wings, a trait shared with reptiles.
2. Possession of avian characters:
- Despite its reptilian features, Archaeopteryx also possessed several bird-like characteristics.
- It had feathers, which are unique to birds and their closest relatives.
- The presence of feathers suggests that Archaeopteryx was capable of flight.
- It had a furcula or wishbone, a structure found in birds that helps support the wings during flight.
- Its skeletal structure, such as the presence of a keeled sternum, indicates adaptations for flight.
3. Transitional features:
- Archaeopteryx exhibited a combination of reptilian and avian features, serving as a transitional form between the two groups.
- Its teeth, claws, and unfused tail bones are reptilian traits, while feathers, furcula, and flight adaptations are avian characteristics.
- These transitional features provide evidence of the evolutionary relationship between reptiles and birds.
In conclusion:
Archaeopteryx is considered a connecting link because it possessed both reptilian and avian characters. The presence of reptilian traits, such as teeth and unfused tail bones, along with avian characteristics like feathers and a furcula, suggest its position as an intermediate form in the evolutionary transition from reptiles to birds. This makes it a crucial fossil in understanding the evolutionary history of birds.
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