Archaeopteryx

A reference overview

Archaeopteryx ( ; lit. 'ancient wing'), sometimes referred to by its German name, "Urvogel " (lit. 'Primeval Bird') is an extinct genus of bird-like dinosaurs. The genus name derives from the Ancient Greek ἀρχαῖος (archaîos), meaning 'ancient', and πτέρυξ (ptérux), meaning 'feather, wing'. Between the late 19th century and the early 21st century, Archaeopteryx was generally accepted by palaeontologists and popular reference books as the oldest known bird (member of the group Avialae).

Overview excerpt from Wikipedia contributors · Archaeopteryx, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Excerpt may be shortened. Overview retrieved 2026-10-09.