Wellnhoferia (named after Peter Wellnhofer) is a genus of early prehistoric bird-like theropod dinosaur closely related to Archaeopteryx. It lived in what is now Germany, during the Late Jurassic. While Wellnhoferia was similar to Archaeopteryx, it had a shorter tail and its fourth toe was shorter than in Archaeopteryx. Andrzej Elżanowski (2001) of the Institute of Zoology of the University of Wrocław, Poland, determined the differences resulted from a "phylogenetic reduction rather than individual variation."[1]
Wellnhoferia (orange) and seven specimens of Archaeopteryx compared to a human in scale
The type specimen is the Solnhofen Specimen of Archaeopteryx (BSP 1999). Discovered in the 1960s near Eichstätt, Germany and described in 1988 by Wellnhofer (as a specimen of Archaeopteryx),[2] it is currently located at the Bürgermeister-Müller-Museum in Solnhofen. It was originally classified as a Compsognathus by an amateur collector.
Although Elżanowski found significant differences between Wellnhoferia and Archaeopteryx, a 2007 study by Mayr et al.[3] found Wellnhoferia was a specimen of Archaeopteryx lithographica. Senter and Robins (2003), however, supported Elżanowski's naming of a new genus.[4]
References
^Elżanowski, Andrzej (2001). "A new genus and species for the largest specimen of Archaeopteryx" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 46 (4): 519–532.
^Wellnhofer, Peter (1988). "A New Specimen of Archaeopteryx". Science. 240 (4860): 1790–1790. doi:10.1126/science.240.4860.1790. PMID 17842432.
^Mayr, Gerald; Pohl, Burkhard; Hartman, Scott; Peters, D. Stefan (2007). "The tenth skeletal specimen of Archaeopteryx" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 149 (1): 97–116. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2006.00245.x.[dead link]
^Senter, Phil; Robins, James H. (2003). "Taxonomic status of the specimens of". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 23 (4): 961–965. doi:10.1671/22.
wellnhoferia, named, after, peter, wellnhofer, genus, early, prehistoric, bird, like, theropod, dinosaur, closely, related, archaeopteryx, lived, what, germany, during, late, jurassic, while, similar, archaeopteryx, shorter, tail, fourth, shorter, than, archae. Wellnhoferia named after Peter Wellnhofer is a genus of early prehistoric bird like theropod dinosaur closely related to Archaeopteryx It lived in what is now Germany during the Late Jurassic While Wellnhoferia was similar to Archaeopteryx it had a shorter tail and its fourth toe was shorter than in Archaeopteryx Andrzej Elzanowski 2001 of the Institute of Zoology of the University of Wroclaw Poland determined the differences resulted from a phylogenetic reduction rather than individual variation 1 WellnhoferiaTemporal range Late Jurassic 150 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N The type specimenScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClade DinosauriaClade SaurischiaClade TheropodaFamily ArchaeopterygidaeGenus WellnhoferiaElzanowski 2001Species W grandis Elzanowski 2001 type Wellnhoferia orange and seven specimens of Archaeopteryx compared to a human in scale The type specimen is the Solnhofen Specimen of Archaeopteryx BSP 1999 Discovered in the 1960s near Eichstatt Germany and described in 1988 by Wellnhofer as a specimen of Archaeopteryx 2 it is currently located at the Burgermeister Muller Museum in Solnhofen It was originally classified as a Compsognathus by an amateur collector Although Elzanowski found significant differences between Wellnhoferia and Archaeopteryx a 2007 study by Mayr et al 3 found Wellnhoferia was a specimen of Archaeopteryx lithographica Senter and Robins 2003 however supported Elzanowski s naming of a new genus 4 References Edit Elzanowski Andrzej 2001 A new genus and species for the largest specimen of Archaeopteryx PDF Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 46 4 519 532 Wellnhofer Peter 1988 A New Specimen of Archaeopteryx Science 240 4860 1790 1790 doi 10 1126 science 240 4860 1790 PMID 17842432 Mayr Gerald Pohl Burkhard Hartman Scott Peters D Stefan 2007 The tenth skeletal specimen of Archaeopteryx PDF Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 149 1 97 116 doi 10 1111 j 1096 3642 2006 00245 x dead link Senter Phil Robins James H 2003 Taxonomic status of the specimens of Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23 4 961 965 doi 10 1671 22 Dinosaurs portal Paleontology portal This theropod related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This prehistoric bird article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wellnhoferia amp oldid 1098932418, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
