Question

If you were to identify a “transitional” animal alive today, say half reptile and half bird (though that is just an example; feel free to choose your own), what would it be? Please describe why you think it could actually be a transitional animal.   

Please need help!!!!

Answer 1

Archaeopteryx

The archaeopteryx was long considered to be the transitional form the between reptiles and birds—the evolutionary link between non-avian dinosaurs and birds. In particular, the areas of the brain associated with movement and vision are enhanced, most likely meaning that the archaeopteryx was a visually-oriented animal.

However, the archaeopteryx also had feathers, wings, furcula, and reduced fingers—all characteristics shared with modern birds. These characteristics, shared fairly evenly amongst non-avian dinosaurs and modern birds, led many scientists, even to this day, to believe that the archaeopteryx was the “missing link” between reptiles and birds.

The brain of the archaeopteryx is very similar to the brains of modern birds. In particular, the areas of the brain associated with movement and vision are enhanced, most likely meaning that the archaeopteryx was a visually-oriented animal. Also, their brains were larger than those of reptiles of similar sizes but smaller than brains of modern birds.

Recent studies have also linked the size and shape of ear canals to behavior and mode of life. This finding is important to the archaeopteryx because its ear canals are of similar architecture to those of modern birds, giving further evidence to the hypothesis that the archaeopteryx could fly.