An extinct group or class of primitive birds from ancient times, especially those transitional forms between dinosaurs and modern birds.
From Greek 'archaeo-' (ancient) + 'ornithes' (birds, plural of ornis). This taxonomic grouping was used in older scientific classifications to organize early bird fossils.
Archaeornithes is an older scientific term that paleontologists don't use much anymore because modern DNA and fossil evidence showed us the classification system needed a major overhaul—it's a word that got outdated as science improved!
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