Archaeopteryx

At the Museum of Evolution, you can stand face to face with one of the rarest and most important fossils in the world — Archaeopteryx. Known as the evolutionary bridge between dinosaurs and modern birds, this tiny creature with feathers, teeth, and claws reshaped everything we thought we knew about the origins of flight.

A Small Dinosaur with Enormous Significance

Archaeopteryx lived around 150 million years ago in what is now southern Germany — a tropical archipelago dotted with warm, shallow lagoons. Gliding from tree to tree, it hunted insects in a landscape shared with early reptiles and other primitive life forms.

Discovered in 1861, the very first Archaeopteryx fossil became a scientific sensation. With both dinosaur traits (like a long tail, claws, and sharp teeth) and bird features (such as feathers and a beak), it offered the first solid proof that birds evolved from dinosaurs.

To this day, only 13 Archaeopteryx specimens — and a single feather — have ever been found. Each one is priceless.

Archaeopteryx No. 8: The Phantom of Evolution

In our collection, we proudly present the 8th-known Archaeopteryx, a fossil so unique it represents a different species: Archaeopteryx albersdoerferi. This remarkable specimen lived about 400,000 years after the others, showing more advanced adaptations for flight. Scientists believe it could glide more efficiently — or even flap its wings — making it a crucial step forward in the evolution of birds.

Nicknamed The Phantom, this Archaeopteryx has a mysterious past. Discovered in the 1990s near Daiting, Germany, it remained hidden in private hands for years. It would appear briefly in exhibitions and then vanish again. Now, after extensive scientific study, this elusive fossil is finally on permanent display — here in Maribo.

Its skull is exquisitely preserved, complete with tiny teeth that you can see through a magnifying glass. Advanced scanning has even revealed possible wing feathers still trapped inside the surrounding rock, waiting to be uncovered.

The Legacy Lives On

Our Archaeopteryx may be the smallest dinosaur in the museum — but it carries the weight of evolutionary history on its feathered wings. It stands as a symbol of transformation, survival, and the story of life itself.

When you visit, don’t just marvel at the fossil. Step outside into the safari park and look at the birds flying above or walking through the grass. You're looking at distant descendants of Archaeopteryx — living proof that evolution is real, ongoing, and breathtaking.