# Archaeopteryx took flight with hops, not leaps, study finds 2026-08-13T08:42:30+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The earliest known bird, Archaeopteryx, did not launch into the air like modern birds but relied on a series of rapid two-legged jumps, according to a landmark study published in August 2026 by researchers from the University of Southampton and the National Natural History Museum in Paris. The creature lived around 150 million years ago and lacked a keeled sternum and the shoulder joint mobility needed for explosive take-offs. Using 3D computer models, scientists tested billions of movement combinations for a 400-gram Archaeopteryx and found that only a multi-jump strategy worked. The legs provided up to 90% of the take-off force. The study supports the 'ground-up' model of flight evolution, suggesting early flight began with coordinated hops rather than running or gliding. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Archaeopteryx, bird flight, evolution, palaeontology, Paris, Southampton Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/archaeopteryx-took-flight-with-hops-not-leaps-study-finds/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/archaeopteryx-took-flight-with-hops-not-leaps-study-finds/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.