[Campbell Biology P.788] Based on Figure 34.31 and the accompanying text, which combination ... | Practice Question

Based on Figure 34.31 and the accompanying text, which combination of features correctly describes Archaeopteryx ?

  • A: Toothed beak, wing claw, and a short tail like modern birds.
  • B: Toothed beak, wing claw, and a long tail with many vertebrae.
  • C: Fully developed sternal keel for powerful flapping flight.
  • D: Feathers primarily for powered flight, enabling standing take-off.

Explanation

Figure 34.31 explicitly labels 'Toothed beak,' 'Wing claw,' and 'Long tail with many vertebrae.' The text corroborates these points, stating that Archaeopteryx 'had feathered wings but retained ancestral characters such as teeth, clawed digits in its wings, and a long tail.' This combination of features accurately describes Archaeopteryx.