An Archaeopteryx depicted near the shore of the Tethys Sea.

IMAGE SPECS: Rights Managed

Description:
During the late Jurassic period, Europe was a dry, tropical archipelago. In this image Archaeopteryx is depicted near the shore of the Tethys Sea. The Archaeopteryx is the earliest known example of a fully feathered dinosaur. Despite its resemblance to birds, Archaeopteryx has more in common with small dinosaurs, especially in regard to its clawed arms and tiny teeth. The highly evolved feathers may have permitted Archaeopteryx to glide short distances, however, it's unlikely Archaeopteryx could fly like a bird.