New Archaeopteryx fossil sheds light on bird evolution

Significantly, the Chicago specimen is the first known Archaeopteryx fossil to preserve tertials — the flight feathers closest to the body. These feathers, not previously seen in non-avian feathered dinosaurs, may represent a flight-related innovation and an important evolutionary step toward powered flight.

The study, published in the journal Nature in May, was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.