The oldest Archaeopteryx (Theropoda: Avialiae): a new specimen from the Kimmeridgian/Tithonian boundary of Schamhaupten, Bavaria

摘要: The iconic primeval bird Archaeopteryx was so far mainly known from the Altmuhltal Formation (early Tithonian) of Bavaria, southern Germany, with one specimen having been found in overlying Mornsheim Formation. A new (the 12th skeletal specimen) earliest Tithonian Painten Schamhaupten (Bavaria) represents oldest representative genus. shows several interesting anatomical details, including presence a postorbital contact jugal, separate prefrontal and coronoid, opisthocoelous mid-cervical vertebrae. Based on observations specimen, we discuss problematic issues concerning Archaeopteryx, monophyly diagnosis genus, absence/presence sternum, position gastralia, variation morphometrics dental morphology that for genus Berlin, Eichstatt, Solnhofen, Munich, Daiting, Thermopolis, 11th, specimens can be referred to this high certainty. Maxberg is very probably also an based overall similarity, although none diagnostic characters evaluated ninth ('chicken wing') might but cannot any In comparison other paravians, distally thickened anterior pectoral ribs indicates rather large cartilagenous sternum present taxon. contrast non-opisthopubic theropods, opisthopubic taxa, such as many have posterior end gastral basket preserved at about half-length pubis, which reflect post-mortem collapse enlarged abdominal air sacs these taxa. Specimens show amount variation, both limb bones well dentition. respect latter aspect, tooth number, spacing, orientation, morphology, no two showing exact same pattern. significance unclear, possible explanations reach intraspecific (and possibly ontogenetic and/or sexual dimorphic) possibility represent 'species flock' due island speciation after initial dispersal into Solnhofen Archipelago.