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Great Transitions: The Origin of Birds

18 minutes 59 seconds

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A diagram showing the transition from Reptiles (dinosaurs and crocodile-like animal) to Archaeopteryx (feathered animal between a reptile and a bird), to Birds. Caption: between birds and reptiles.

The discovery of Archaeopteryx in a quarry in Germany in the early 1860s provided the first clue that birds descended from reptiles. In the last 40 years, scientists have identified many shared features between birds and two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs called theropods.

Media Details

Runtime: 18 minutes 59 seconds

Illustration of a four-legged animal standing in shallow water on top of a layer of rock. Caption: Many things must happen for an animal to be fossilized.
Great Transitions
Episode 1
17 minutes 17 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
A diagram showing the transition from Reptiles (dinosaurs and crocodile-like animal) to Archaeopteryx (feathered animal between a reptile and a bird), to Birds. Caption: between birds and reptiles.
Great Transitions
Episode 2
18 minutes 59 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Illustration of a primate standing on two legs. Caption: Ardi is neither a chimp nor is she a human.
Great Transitions
Episode 3
19 minutes 44 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12