Biology 3315 Assignment 3

By using the information found at the following websites: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/avians.html andhttp://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/birds/archaeopteryx.html, http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/archaeopteryx/info.html. After reading the information found there, anwer the following questions. Your answers should be in two, typewritten pages. This assignment is due at the beginning of class on 06 December 2004 (5 points). 

1) Where is Solenhofen and why ist it important?

2) What is Archaeopteryx and why is it important? What characters does it share with modern birds? In what way is it different from modern birds? How many named specimens exist today (you may have to do a web search on your own to answer this question)?

3) Are birds really dinosaurs? What kinds of data are used to support this hypothesis? What kinds of data are used to refute this hypothesis?

4) What was new to you?

 

(NB: for some more information, check out these websites: China's Feathered Dinosaurs, Feathered Dinosaur, Furcula)