The discovery of an exquisitely preserved Archaeopteryx fossil has brought new clarity to how the earliest birds first took flight 150 million years ago. This fossil, which was acquired by the Field Museum in 2022, is the first of its kind to reveal specialized wing feathers that would have enabled flight. “Archaeopteryx isn’t the first dinosaur to have feathers, or the first dinosaur to have ‘wings’. But we think it’s the earliest known dinosaur that was able to use its feathers to fly,” said Dr. Jingmai O’Connor, associate curator of fossil reptiles at the Field Museum in Chicago, who led the analysis, according to the Guardian.
These newly identified feathers, called tertials, are located on the upper arm bone and create a smooth aerodynamic line from wing to body. This formation is not found in feathered flightless dinosaurs, suggesting that it was a vital adaptation for generating lift and achieving flight. “Their wing feathers stop at the elbow. That tells us that these non-avian dinosaurs couldn’t fly, but Archaeopteryx could,” O’Connor explained.
For Catholics, the discovery of such intricate evolutionary adaptations can evoke wonder and awe at the Creator’s hand in the natural world. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “God himself created the visible world in all its richness, diversity, and order.” (CCC 337). The newly identified feathers highlight the complexity of creation and the gradual unfolding of life on Earth, as observed in both nature and the fossil record.
Despite its bird-like feathers, Archaeopteryx retained dinosaur-like features such as jaws with sharp teeth, a long bony tail, and hyperextensible second toes, often referred to as the “killing claw.” The Chicago specimen had been in private ownership before being acquired by the Field Museum. The researchers used CT scanning and UV light to carefully reveal the fossil’s boundaries before removing the surrounding rock, exposing previously unseen feathers.
Further analysis of the fossil revealed bones in the roof of the mouth that may represent an evolutionary step toward cranial kinesis, a feature seen in modern birds that allows the beak to move independently from the braincase. Additionally, tightly packed scales preserved in the pads of the feet indicate that Archaeopteryx may have spent much of its time walking on the ground, with the possibility of climbing trees.
For Catholics, these findings provide a powerful reminder of the ordered complexity of creation. By examining such fossils, scientists can uncover evidence of life’s gradual development over millennia, echoing St. Augustine’s teachings that God created the world with inherent potentialities that would unfold over time.
As Dr. John Nudds, a senior lecturer in palaeontology at the University of Manchester, noted, “These new feathers seen in this beautifully preserved specimen – as well as the asymmetric feathers – confirm it could fly,” according to the Guardian. Such findings continue to remind us that each discovery in nature not only advances scientific understanding but also deepens our appreciation of God’s creative wisdom.
