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Nature 430, 619-620 (5 August 2004) | doi:10.1038/430619a; Published online 4 August 2004

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Palaeontology:  Inside the oldest bird brain

Lawrence M. Witmer1

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Did Archaeopteryx, the most primitive known bird, have 'the right stuff'? Looking into its skull with advanced technology provides insight into the dinosaurian transition to birds, and the evolution of flight.

Archaeopteryx may not be a global star of the calibre of, say, Tyrannosaurus rex, but it undoubtedly has iconic status. Combining the feathered wings and wishbone of birds with the toothed jaws and long bony tail of reptiles (Fig. 1

  1. Lawrence M. Witmer is in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA.
    e-mail: Email: witmerL@ohio.edu

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