Sample press release for Archaeopteryx media kit.

1. It’s a Bird! It’s a Dinosaur? <br />Archaeopteryx: Icon of Evolution opens April 23, 2010<br />HOUSTON-Come and decide for yourself if birds are direct descendents of dinosaurs. The Houston Museum of Natural Science will host the world premiere of Archaeopteryx: Icon of Evolution exhibition beginning April 23. <br />Most scientists believe that birds evolved from small therapod dinosaurs; however, it wasn’t until they began to develop feathers that allowed them to fly. One of the world’s most complete archaeopteryx fossils was first found in the stone quarries of Solnhofen, Germany in 1861. Two years before, Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution. <br />Archaeopteryx possesses both avian and reptilian features, but it can be seen that it possesses more characters which are seen in dinosaurs and not in birds. This has sparked controversy over the ancestry of archaeopteryx that has lasted for decades. Still, some scientists believe that anatomical analysis, with the near-perfect condition of the feathers, proves Archaeopteryx is of avian ancestry. <br />So, come and decide for yourself if Archaeopteryx truly is a bird or a dinosaur. This special exhibition will present for the first time fossils from the late Jurassic period, illustrating the life that once roamed the Earth during this period. In addition to the Archaeopteryx specimen, on loan from the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, Wyoming, will be more than 100 amazingly detailed fossils from the famed quarries of Solnhofen, Germany.<br />Archaeopteryx: Icon of Evolution is organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. For tickets, or more information, visit www.hmns.org or call 713-639-4629. <br />The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the nation’s most-heavily attended museums with four floors of permanent exhibit halls, including the Wortham IMAX Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and George Observatory. In addition, The Houston Museum of Natural Science is a host to world-class touring exhibitions allowing each visit to be filled with extraordinary discoveries.<br />