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Archaeopteryx etc Trivia Quiz

A quiz concerning one of the most fascinating fossil discoveries.

A multiple-choice quiz by succubus. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
succubus

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
54,925

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
2865

Awards
Editor's Choice

Last 3 plays: Southendboy (8/10), Guest 144 (1/10), blackandgreen (3/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what year was the first Archaeopteryx fossil, a feather found? Hint

1960

1920

1860

1820

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Question 2 of 10

2. Where was the feather, and most of the other Archaeopteryx fossils, found? Hint

Bavaria

London

Berlin

Madagascar

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Question 3 of 10

3. Archaeopteryx is famous for being the first bird. Which of the following would NOT claim to knock it off its perch? Hint

Protoavis

Longisquama

Compsognathus

Confuciusornis

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Question 4 of 10

4. How old is Archaeopteryx (approximately)? Hint

150 million years

100 million years

200 million years

50 million years

5. Some dinosaur fossils have been found with a furcula (or wishbone), leading scientists to hypothesise that Archaeopterx evolved from dinosaurs and not alongside them. Which is one dinosaur that provided this evidence? Hint

Oviraptor

Compsognathus

Velociraptor

Pterodactyl

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was so extraordinary about the first Archaeopteryx feather? Hint

It was small

It was symmetrical

It was asymmetrical

It was large

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following is NOT a model for the evolution of flight? Hint

Tertiary Model

Arboreal Model

Arbocursorial Model

Cursorial Model

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Question 8 of 10

8. Claws are evident on Archaeopteryx's wings. There is another modern bird which shares this characteristic. Which bird? Hint

Kakapo

Hoatzin

Chiffchaff

Megapode

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Question 9 of 10

9. A tree-down hypothesis of the evolution of flight suggests that early birds glided down from the trees. Some modern animals have achieved gliding abilities from the trees. Which of the following is NOT a gliding animal? Hint

Draco

Jumping Tree Beetle

Parachuting Frog

Gliding Snake

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Question 10 of 10

10. Many of the questions about Archaeopteryx could be solved by closer examination of one of the fossil specimens. Why has this not been done? Hint

None of the owners will allow anyone else to touch their fossil.

Uncertainty surrounding the fossils breeds interest, & the owners want to keep it that way

Exposure to air would destroy the fossil.

The feather impressions would be destroyed in the preparation

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 12 2024 : Southendboy: 8/10
Oct 22 2024 : Guest 144: 1/10
Oct 17 2024 : blackandgreen: 3/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year was the first Archaeopteryx fossil, a feather found?

Answer: 1860

The feather was an enlightening discovery. Not only was it 150 million years old, but it had aerodynamic qualities. The feather pre-dated the earliest birds that were known at the time.

2. Where was the feather, and most of the other Archaeopteryx fossils, found?

Answer: Bavaria

To be precise the feather was found in the Solnhofen region of Bavaria in an ancient, shallow lagoon.

3. Archaeopteryx is famous for being the first bird. Which of the following would NOT claim to knock it off its perch?

Answer: Compsognathus

Longisquama is around 245 million years old, as is Protoavis, both pre-dating Archaeopteryx by about 75 million years. Longisquama has primitive feathers, but is more likely to be an evolutionary step towards flight as opposed to its pioneer. The skeleton of protoavis is fragmentary, and there are no feather remains but its skull is closely related to that of birds. Confuciusornis is about 5 million years younger than Archaeopteryx.

It has many modern bird features that Archaeopteryx lacks.

4. How old is Archaeopteryx (approximately)?

Answer: 150 million years

Archaeopteryx appeared in the Late Jurassic period.

Answer: Velociraptor

The Velociraptor is a theropod and shares a similar skeletal structure as Archaeopteryx. Cladistic analysis supports the theory that birds descended from theropods like Velociraptor

6. What was so extraordinary about the first Archaeopteryx feather?

Answer: It was asymmetrical

The asymmetry of the feather indicated an aerodynamic function. The same pattern is found in modern birds. Flightless birds tend to have symmetric feathers, flying birds tend to have asymmetrical feathers.

7. Which of the following is NOT a model for the evolution of flight?

Answer: Tertiary Model

The arboreal model, or tree-down hypothesis, says that flight evolved with early birds gliding down from trees. The cursorial model, or ground-up hypothesis, says that early birds took off from the ground. The arbocursorial model by Bock is a way to sit on the fence.

8. Claws are evident on Archaeopteryx's wings. There is another modern bird which shares this characteristic. Which bird?

Answer: Hoatzin

Hoatzin chicks have claws on their wings. These are used when danger threatens the nest. The hoatzin chicks hurl themselves out of the nest and use the wing claws to climb back up to the nest when the danger is over. The behaviour of this modern bird gives some insight as to what Archaeopteryx might have used its wing claws for.

Answer: Jumping Tree Beetle

The gliding animals of today have all evolved from the trees. Leading scientists to suggest that Archaeopteryx lived in the trees and 'learned' to fly by gliding either from tree to tree or to the ground.

10. Many of the questions about Archaeopteryx could be solved by closer examination of one of the fossil specimens. Why has this not been done?

Answer: The feather impressions would be destroyed in the preparation

A guardian of one of the specimens suggested that the further examination should be carried out, but with someone else's specimen!

Source: Author succubus

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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