Was Dinosaurian Physiology Inherited by Birds? Reconciling Slow Growth in Archaeopteryx
Figure 3
Fibrous surface texture and longitudinal vascular canals visible within the cortices of Archaeopteryx long bones.
(A) Tibial diaphysis from the smallest known Archaeopteryx, the Eichstät specimen (JM 2257) showing sparse longitudinal vascularization in the form of parallel striae. Comparable immature texture and patterning is found in the major long bones throughout the Archaeopteryx growth series. For example, it is seen in the tibiae of the moderately larger Munich specimen (BSPG 1999 I 50) shown in (B), and in the largest known individual (The Solnhofen specimen, BMMS 500) shown in (C). Scale bars = 1.5 mm.