Archaeopteryx

This is an Archaeopteryx - its fossil was one of the most important scientific discoveries ever made.

Not only was it the first feathered dinosaur found, but we now know its colors were mostly black and white, much like a magpie.

In addition to it's obvious bird-like traits, it also sported many traditional "dinosaur" features such as sharp teeth, a bony tail... ... and a "killing claw" similar to it's distant relative, the Velociraptor.

Its name means "ancient wing." ...Not to be confused with the similarly named Paleozoic tree, Archaeopteris, which means "ancient fern." The distinction, of course, is quite important!