Figure 4
From: Evidence corroborates identity of isolated fossil feather as a wing covert of Archaeopteryx
Altmühl specimen of Archaeopteryx, showing the dorsal surface of the right wing. (a) Key anatomical features denoted include two slightly curved rachis impressions (white arrows), two leading vane widths (small double arrows), the leading edge of the best-preserved UMPC (arrowhead), and a representative barb angle, which measures 25.1° (yellow lines; corresponding barb in isolated feather measures 25.2°; see Supplementary Fig. S15). Also note the posterior orientation of the UMPCs with respect to the manus and primaries, suggesting an absence of S-shaped centerlines. Inset: overview of specimen, denoting enlarged region. (b) Reconstruction of the isolated feather is overlaid at scale. Note the match in both size and shape to the underlying distal UMPC in the Altmühl specimen. Inset: black feather denotes prior hypothesis of the isolated feather’s approximate location, as a distal member of the UMPC tract9 (shown as a right wing to match that of the Altmühl specimen). Scale bar: 1 cm.
