The upcoming discussion will update you about the difference between archaeopteryx characters and phylogenetic relationship.

Difference # Archaeopteryx Characters:

1. Presence of feather.

2. Hallux (great toes) opposable.

3. Bones non-pneumatic

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4. Large orbit with sclerotic rings.

5. Antorbital foramen.

6. Post-dentary fenestra.

7. Teeth socketed.

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8. Vertebrae amphicoelous.

9. Cervical vertebrae six and bear ribs.

10. 19-20 trunk vertebrae; 6 sacral verte­brae, only 5 fused to form synsacrum.

11. Free caudal vertebrae 20, no pygostyle.

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12. Sternum lacks a keel.

13. Abdominal ribs.

14. Clavicles fused to form a furcula.

15. None of the wing bones fused.

16. Digits of the manus reduced to 3 with external and functional claws.

Difference # Phylogenetic Relationship:

1. Avian trait.

2. Present in many reptiles and modern birds.

3. Bones pneumatic in fliers.

4. Found in modern birds and the codont reptiles like Euparkeria.

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5. Archosaurian feature.

6. Archosaurian feature.

7. Thecodont feature.

8. Non-avian feature.

9. Reptilian character. Modern birds have 13-25 cervical vertebrae and none bears rib.

10. Reptilian feature; more vertebrae fused in modem birds.

11. Primitive feature, modern flying birds bear a pygostyle.

12. Found in Ratite (flightless birds).

13. Reptilian character, present in spheno­don and crocodiles.

14. Avian character.

15. Reptilian feature; modern birds have fused carpometacorpus.

16. Common in bipedal Mesozoic reptiles; vestigeal external claws present in some modern birds, e.g. Hoatzin of the Amazon forest.

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