This excerpt from Palaeos Vertebrates gives a descriptive analysis of the
bones of Archaeopteryx fossil specimens. It says:

"Pigeon-sized extremely primitive bird, probably capable of flight. Skull
moderately long and pointed; maxilla, premaxilla and dentary toothed; teeth
sparse, small, with constriction between crown & roots and not laterally
flattened or serrated; interdental plates present; nasals are primary rostral
bones, nares large; antorbital fossa with 2 fenestrae (?), very large; orbit
very large; jugal reduced almost to bar connecting maxilla and quadrate; frontal
expanded laterally; probable very large brain; parietal markedly narrower;
quadrate may be moveable; large surrangular forming upper surface of posterior
portion of lower jaw; angular forms lower surface; most other dermal skull
components present but strongly reduced; small posteriorly-directed cervical
ribs; notarium absent; tail longer than dorsal spine; sternum absent; coracoid
short; scapula long and narrow; furcula large; tridactyl wings with short,
sharp, curved claws; radius & ulna unfused; flexible carpus; pelvis long
and fairly shallow; angle of pubis disputed, but certainly not prepubic; knee
hinge-like femus < tibia; fibula reduced; distal tarsals fused to metatarsals,
which are partially fused proximally (i.e. tarsometatarsus present); digits
anisodactyl."

Definitions of terms:

maxilla - upper jaw bone, is involved with the formation of the orbit
(eye-socket), hard palate, and nasal cavity

premaxilla - a bone that is on either side of the middle line between the nose
and the mouth; it forms the anterior portion of each half of the upper jawbone.

rostral - pertaining to the rostrum, i.e. the beak of the bird.

fenestrae -

jugal - pertaining to or in the region of the malar (cheekbone).

nares - nostrils or nasal openings

antorbital fossa - depression or pit in the antorbital. Antorbital has to do
with or is located in the region of the front of the orbit (eye socket).

parietal - of or pertaining to the walls of a cavity

quadrate - bone which is between base of lower jaw and the skull.

coracoid - It is shaped like a crow's beak and is a process of the scapula.

furcula - a forked -process of the wishbone or furculum that is formed by united
clavicles.

clavicle - shoulder bone. It articulates with the shoulder on one end (at the
acromion process of the scapula) and the sternum (breast bone) on the other.

scapula - a large bone that is flat and triangular. It forms the posterior
portion of the shoulder. The bone articulates with the clavicle (at the acromion
process) and the humerus at the glenoid.

radius - one of two bones which comprise the forearm. The largest part of the
radius is located at the wrist joint, which it articulates with the carpal bones
of the hand. Farther up, the radius articulates with the humerus at the elbow
joint.

ulna - This is one of the bones which constitute the forearm. The largest aspect
articulates with the humerus at the elbow joint. The smallest part of the ulna
is articulated with the carpal bones in the wrist.

tibia - a large bone that is located between the knee and the foot.

fibula - a long bone in the lower leg that is adjacent to the tibia. The fibula
gives support to most of the body weight. It also produces the outer prominence
of the ankle.

metatarsals - cylindrical bones extending from the heel to the toes.

anisodactyl - That which is anisodactylous, i.e. characterized by unequal toes

Neal Robbins








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