Archaeopteryx lithographica is widely regarded as one of the first true birds. Since the first discovery of a single feather in 1860, only seven specimens of Archaeopteryx have been found, all in the Solnhofen limestone of southern Germany. Archaeopteryx is a derived theropod dinosaur, had wings and feathers, and lived approximately 145 million years ago. There is some controversy regarding the question of whether Archaeopteryx could genuinely fly or only hop around and glide from trees.
