Dinosaurs were not reptiles. The common idea in the first half+ or so of the last century is that they were cold blooded, but for the majority that has changed. They are thought to have been at least somewhat social, for example the wrongly named Oviraptor (egg thief) was actually found entombed in a brooding position on her nest, caught in a sandstorm.
As for transitional forms? Archaeopteryx, which you mentioned, is a beautiful one. Like you said, it is dinosaurian in some ways and bird-like in others. Feathers (as you might imagine, don't fossilize all that well, and one of the earliest fossils found of Archaeopteryx was classified as Compsognathus. It had feathers, though, and along with that, only a few features unique to birds; (ie) a reversed big toe, unserrated teeth, and long limbs. Other features which are somewhat bird like have also been found in other theropod dinosaurs (I'm talking about things like the mesotarsal joint, which is shared by pterosaurs, dinosaurs and birds). Truly dinosaurian features are things like teeth, the bony tail etc. Feathers, however, which Archaeopteryx had, have been found on other theropods, as well as the "wishbone," which serves in flight. **Fun fact- birds can be induced to produce teeth- they still have the genes for it.**
Looking at the fossil record, it is actually amazing how many transitional forms we have. Looking at the limbs of (in order) Ornithosuchus, Deinonychus, Ornitholestes, Archaeopteryx, and then a pigeon, there is a clear transition from stocky fingered limbs to wings (This is not the image I’m thinking of but this one here does the same job).
It’s important to remember that fossils are not necessarily directly ancestral, since the fossil record is not perfect (though we are lucky in how much has been, and is being, recovered). They are more often thought of as “cousins” of the actual ancestors. So what is actually believed by most palaeontologists is that archaeopteryx shares a common ancestry with birds. Your claim, though, that evolutionists do not see archaeopteryx in this way is unfounded. Further, I have never once heard of any fossil birds being found in the same strata as Archaeopteryx, do you have any evidence of this?
As for transitional forms? Archaeopteryx, which you mentioned, is a beautiful one. Like you said, it is dinosaurian in some ways and bird-like in others. Feathers (as you might imagine, don't fossilize all that well, and one of the earliest fossils found of Archaeopteryx was classified as Compsognathus. It had feathers, though, and along with that, only a few features unique to birds; (ie) a reversed big toe, unserrated teeth, and long limbs. Other features which are somewhat bird like have also been found in other theropod dinosaurs (I'm talking about things like the mesotarsal joint, which is shared by pterosaurs, dinosaurs and birds). Truly dinosaurian features are things like teeth, the bony tail etc. Feathers, however, which Archaeopteryx had, have been found on other theropods, as well as the "wishbone," which serves in flight. **Fun fact- birds can be induced to produce teeth- they still have the genes for it.**
Looking at the fossil record, it is actually amazing how many transitional forms we have. Looking at the limbs of (in order) Ornithosuchus, Deinonychus, Ornitholestes, Archaeopteryx, and then a pigeon, there is a clear transition from stocky fingered limbs to wings (This is not the image I’m thinking of but this one here does the same job).
It’s important to remember that fossils are not necessarily directly ancestral, since the fossil record is not perfect (though we are lucky in how much has been, and is being, recovered). They are more often thought of as “cousins” of the actual ancestors. So what is actually believed by most palaeontologists is that archaeopteryx shares a common ancestry with birds. Your claim, though, that evolutionists do not see archaeopteryx in this way is unfounded. Further, I have never once heard of any fossil birds being found in the same strata as Archaeopteryx, do you have any evidence of this?
