Jurassic Carnivore Theropods

Archaeopteryx lithographica

Archaeopteryx lithographica

Pronunciation: [ar-kee-OP-ter-iks LITH-oh-GRAF-ih-kuh] Meaning: “Ancient wing of lithographic stone”

The historic transitional fossil bridging non-avian feathered theropods and modern birds, possessing feathered wings alongside toothed jaws and a bony tail.

Compare Specimen View Key Metrics ↓
Original fossil limestone slab of Archaeopteryx lithographica (specimen MB.Av.100, the "Berlin Specimen") showing feather impressions, wings, and reptilian tail.
Verified Museum Specimen
MB.Av.100 ("Berlin Specimen" original fossil slab) • Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany
Photo: Emily Willoughby (CC BY-SA 4.0) (CC BY-SA 4.0) • Specimen Record ↗

Specimen Field Matrix

Empirical morphological and stratigraphical records
Geologic Period Jurassic
Temporal Range Late Jurassic, 150–148 Ma
Dietary Guild Carnivore
Taxonomic Clade Theropods
Total Length 0.5 m (1.6 ft)
Standing Height 0.3 m (1 ft)
Body Mass Estimate 1 kg (0 t / 2 lbs)
Locomotion Bipedal / Volant
Fossil Localities Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany
Stratigraphic Formations Solnhofen Limestone
Field Dispatch & Natural History

Paleontological Overview

The historic transitional fossil bridging non-avian feathered theropods and modern birds, possessing feathered wings alongside toothed jaws and a bony tail.

Archaeopteryx lithographica was described from fossil material recovered in the Solnhofen Limestone.

Biomechanical Proportions

Human Scale Comparison

Proportional anatomical comparison between an average adult human (1.8 m / 5.9 ft) and Archaeopteryx lithographica (0.5 m / 1.6 ft length, 0.3 m / 1 ft standing height).

Ground Level (0.0 m) 1.8 m (5.9 ft) Length: 0.5 m (1.6 ft) 0.3 m height
Adult Human: 1.8 m (5.9 ft)
Archaeopteryx lithographica: 0.5 m (1.6 ft) length • 0.3 m (1 ft) standing height
Paleogeography & Stratigraphy

Where & When It Lived

Geographic Range & Habitat

Europe
Fossil Deposit Localities:
Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany
Geological Formations:
Solnhofen Limestone

Fossil specimens of this species have been recovered from terrestrial floodplains, ancient river channels, and coastal sandstone facies deposited during continental rifting and tectonic reconfigurations.

Geologic Epoch & Chronology

Jurassic Period Late Jurassic, 150–148 Ma

Radiometric dating of volcanic ash layers (bentonite horizons) places this taxon between 150 and 148 million years before the present.

Visual Archives

Specimen & Life Restoration Gallery

Verified Museum Specimen MB.Av.100 ("Berlin Specimen" original fossil slab)
Biomechanical Profile Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany
Scientific Bibliography

Peer-Reviewed References & Institutional Literature

Monographs and peer-reviewed taxonomic papers for this record are compiled from international paleontological journals and museum collections.

Scientific data peer-reviewed and verified on March 25, 2026 • Dinosaurs Facts Paleontological Registry
Mesozoic Kinship

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