Table 2 Comparison of anatomical attributes shared by the isolated fossil feather and major primary coverts of Archaeopteryx specimens. Rows ranked by level of support. Consistency between the isolated feather and a given feather tract is designated “yes”, “no”, or “?” (not observable) (see Supplementary Information: 15. Anatomical attributes). See Supplementary Table S1 for other tracts. Abbreviations: UMPC, upper (dorsal) major primary covert; uMPC, under (ventral) major primary covert.
From: Evidence corroborates identity of isolated fossil feather as a wing covert of Archaeopteryx
feather tract (specimen) | 1. Relative calamus length | 2. Length | 3. Width | 4. Aspect ratio | 5. Lateral curvature | 6. Barb angle | 7. Vane asymmetry | 8. Vane closure | 9. Angled distal tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UMPC (Altmühl) | ? | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | ? |
uMPC (Berlin) | ? | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
uMPC (London) | ? | yes | ? | ? | yes | yes | ? | ? | ? |
