Why are fossils of the animal Archaeopteryx used as evidence that birds and dinosaurs may be very closely related (meaning that birds and dinosaurs might share a more recent common ancestor than they would with other types of animals, such as mammals)?

Question

Archaeopteryx were not able to survive as well as birds, but better than dinosaurs.

Archaeopteryx were older than dinosaurs but younger than birds.

Archaeopteryx fossils were found near both bird and dinosaur fossils in rock layers.

Archaeopteryx share characteristics of both birds and dinosaurs (like teeth and feathers), as seen in their fossils.

Answer 1

Many scientists believe that birds evolved from a group of dinosaurs known as theropods, and the existence of Archaeopteryx provides a crucial link between birds and dinosaurs. The fossilized remains of Archaeopteryx have characteristics of both birds (such as feathers) and dinosaurs (such as teeth and a long bony tail), suggesting that it was a transitional species between the two groups. This evidence supports the theory that birds and dinosaurs are very closely related and share a common ancestor. Therefore, the fossils of Archaeopteryx are used as evidence to support the idea that birds and dinosaurs are more closely related to each other than they are to other types of animals, such as mammals.