Archaeopteryx likely used leg hops to take flight, study finds

New biomechanical research suggests that Archaeopteryx, the prehistoric creature often regarded as the first bird, likely took off using a series of hops rather than the single powerful leap used by modern birds.

A study published in the journal Developmental Biology utilized musculoskeletal computer models to analyze the creature's anatomy. Researchers found that because Archaeopteryx lacked a keeled sternum and had limited shoulder mobility, its wings were incapable of generating the forceful stroke required for a modern takeoff. Instead, the animal relied on its robust hindlimbs, which accounted for approximately 13% of its body mass.

While a single jump could only propel the animal to about 3 m/sec—short of the speed required for sustained flight—the study indicates that the legs generated the necessary initial force, allowing the wings to take over once the creature was airborne. Archaeopteryx lived in what is now Germany during the Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago, and possessed a mix of avian and dinosaurian traits, including feathers and wings alongside teeth and a long bony tail.