Jurassic
Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx lithographica
The catalogue presents Archaeopteryx as a carnivore member of Archaeopterygidae that lived during the Jurassic, between 150.8–148.5 Ma. Its estimated range is 0.5 m in length and 0.5–1.0 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Solnhofen Limestone, Bavaria, Germany. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Archaeopteryx, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Meyer (1861).
The PBDB places it in Avialae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Archaeopterygidae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Archaeopterygidae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Tithonian to the Barremian.
The PBDB catalogues 6 occurrences, with material from the Altmühltal Formation (4) and from the Solnhofen Formation (1). Provenance: Germany.
The catalogue records the holotype as London Specimen and the type locality as “Solnhofen Limestone, Bavaria, Germany”.
- London Specimen
- Solnhofen Limestone, Bavaria, Germany
The catalogue's reference measurements are 0.5 m in length and 0.5–1.0 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 0.5 m
- 0.5-1.0 kg
The record gathers 56 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
Where it lived
Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.
Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.
Artistic 3D reconstruction
There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.
Physical Specifications
- Length
- 0.5 m
- Weight
- 0.5–1.0 kg
- Period
- Jurassic
- Time range
- 150.8–148.5 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1861
- Described by
- Hermann von Meyer
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Archaeopterygidae
- Genus
- Archaeopteryx
- Species
- A. lithographica
Data status
Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.
Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.
- Type specimen
- London Specimen
- Type locality
- Solnhofen Limestone, Bavaria, Germany