Archaeornithes now thought to represent a single species, "Archaeopteryx lithographica", the "Archaeornis" being the Berlin specimen of "Archaeopteryx". While rarely used by palaenthologists today, the term was revived by the ornithologists Livezey and Zusi in 2007, for a group comprising Archaeopterygidae and the Confuciusornithidae. Archaeornithes The Archaeornithes, classically Archæornithes, is an extinct group of the first primitive, reptile-like birds. It is an evolutionary grade of transitional fossils, the primitive birds halfway between non avian dinosaur ancestors and the derived modern birds (avian dinosaur). Fossils of early birds were poorly known until the late 20th century. Of those known, all fell into
Specimens of Archaeopteryx Pohl, who was able to find an anonymous donor willing to offer up the funds. After an initial period of display and scientific study in Germany, the specimen would then be given to the WDC on a long-term loan. After a period of research (Mayr et al. 2005, 2007), the fossil was transferred to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center of Thermopolis, Wyoming, where it has remained since June 2007. The export out of Germany of this specimen—widely considered to be one of the best "Archaeopteryx" fossils known—has caused some concern among German paleontologists and the public. Though no formal legality was