Tag Archives: pterosaurs

New Research Uncovers How Pterosaurs Developed Flight-Ready Brains

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An international team of researchers has conducted a groundbreaking study utilizing high-resolution 3D imaging techniques, including micro-CT scans, to reconstruct the brain shapes of over 30 species. These species range from pterosaurs and their relatives to early dinosaurs and bird precursors, modern crocodiles, and various Triassic archosaurs.

Reconstruction of the landscape from the late Triassic period, approximately 215 million years ago. A Lagelpetidae, a relative of pterosaurs, perches on a rock and observes a pterosaur flying overhead. Image credit: Mateus Fernández.

The earliest known pterosaurs, dating back approximately 220 million years, were already adept at powered flight. This ability subsequently evolved independently in paraavian dinosaurs, a group that encompasses modern birds and their non-avian relatives.

Flight is a complex locomotion type that necessitates physiological adaptations and significant changes in body structure, including alterations in body proportions, specialized coverings, and the enhancement of neurosensory capabilities.

While birds and pterosaurs exhibit distinct skeletal and covering adaptations for flying, it is suggested that they may share neuroanatomical features linked to aerial movement.

“Our findings bolster the evidence that the enlarged brain observed in modern birds, and possibly their ancient ancestors, didn’t drive the flight abilities of pterosaurs,” stated Dr. Matteo Fabbri from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

“Our research indicates that pterosaurs achieved flight early in their evolution and did so with relatively small brains, akin to flightless dinosaurs.”

To explore whether pterosaurs gained flight differently than birds and bats, researchers examined the evolutionary tree of reptiles to understand the evolution of pterosaur brain shape and size, seeking clues that may have led to the emergence of flight.

They particularly emphasized the optic lobe, an area crucial for vision, whose growth is believed to correlate with flying ability.

The team focused on pterosaurs’ closest relatives through CT scans and imaging software capable of retrieving information about the nervous systems of fossils, specifically examining Ixarelpeton, a flightless arboreal species from the lagerpetide family that existed in Brazil around 233 million years ago.

Dr. Mario Bronzati from the University of Tübingen noted: “The brains of Lagerpetidae exhibited features linked to enhanced vision, like enlarged optic lobes, which might have equipped pterosaur relatives for flight.”

“Pterosaurs had larger optic lobes as well,” Fabbri added.

However, aside from the optic lobes, there were minimal similarities in brain shape and size when comparing pterosaurs to their closest flying reptile relatives, the Lagerpetidae.

“Some similarities suggest that the flying pterosaurs, which arose shortly after Lagerpetidae, may have acquired flight capabilities swiftly during their origin,” Fabbri explained.

“In essence, the pterosaur brain underwent rapid changes from the start, acquiring all necessary adaptations for flight.”

“Conversely, modern birds are believed to have inherited specific traits from their prehistoric predecessors, such as an expanded cerebrum, cerebellum, and optic lobes, gradually adapting them for flight over time.”

This theory is reinforced by a 2024 study highlighting the brain’s cerebellum expansion as a pivotal factor for bird flight.

The cerebellum, located at the brain’s rear, regulates and coordinates muscle movements, among various functions.

In further research, the scientists examined the brain cavities of fossil crocodilians and early extinct birds, comparing them to those of pterosaurs.

They discovered that pterosaur brains had moderately enlarged hemispheres that resembled those of other dinosaurs, contrasting with modern birds’ brain cavities.

“Discoveries in southern Brazil provide remarkable new insights into the origins of major animal groups such as dinosaurs and pterosaurs,” remarked paleontologist Dr. Rodrigo Temp Muller from the Federal University of Santa Maria.

“With every new fossil and study released, our understanding of what the early relatives of these groups looked like becomes increasingly clear—something we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago.”

“In future studies, gaining a deeper understanding of how pterosaur brain structure, along with its size and shape, facilitated flight will be crucial for unveiling the fundamental biological principles of flight,” Fabbri stated.

The results were published in the journal Current Biology.

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Mario Bronzati et al. Neuroanatomical convergence between pterosaurs and nonavian parabirds in the evolution of flight. Current Biology published online on November 26, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.10.086

Source: www.sci.news

Fossils Uncover First Evidence of Herbivorous Pterosaurs

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Paleontologists from China and Brazil have reported the discovery of 320 phytoliths (tiny mineral structures formed within plant cells) found in the fossilized stomach of a pterosaur species known as Synopterus atavismus.

Rebuilding the life of Synopterus atavismus. Image credit: Maurilio Oliveira / Science China Press.

Pterosaurs, a group of reptiles that went extinct during the Mesozoic Era, were the first vertebrates to develop powered flight.

However, their dietary habits remain largely enigmatic.

Various hypotheses have been proposed regarding pterosaur diets, including insectivorous, piscivorous, carnivorous, omnivorous, herbivorous/frugivorous, filter feeding, and generalized diets.

Though stomach contents provide compelling evidence, such finds are exceedingly rare.

In addition to scales associated with the thorax of Eudimorphodon, only five confirmed instances of pterosaur gastric contents have been documented since the Late Triassic in Italy, all related to Rhamphorhynchus from the Late Jurassic Solnhofen limestone in Germany.

These instances largely consist of remains like dead fish, along with some unidentified items.

In a recent study, Dr. Xiaolin Wang from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues investigated the contents of fossilized stomachs from Synopterus atavismus, which existed in China approximately 120 million years ago.

They identified numerous small gastroliths in the stomach contents, from which they extracted 320 phytoliths.

“Phytoliths are microscopic silica structures formed during plant growth, exhibiting diverse morphologies across different plant species and even within various parts of the same plant,” the paleontologists stated.

“This discovery marks the first extraction of phytoliths from a pterosaur and the second documented instance of a pterosaur featuring a gastrolith.”

Specimen of Synopterus atavismus. Image credit: Jiang et al., doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2025.06.040.

To determine whether Synopterus atavismus was indeed herbivorous, the researchers explored other possible interpretations.

“Initially, we confirmed that surrounding rocks did not contain the phytoliths found in the stomach, eliminating contamination as a factor,” the researchers commented.

“We also considered the possibility that the plant material could have originated from animals that consume plants.”

“However, Synopterus atavismus exhibited a rapid metabolism akin to that of birds. If it had consumed vertebrates or insects, traces like bones, scales, or hard insect shells would have been present in the stomach, but none were found.”

“The hypothesis of eating soft-bodied creatures like caterpillars was also insufficient. Why would it require so many gastroliths if hard food wasn’t part of its diet?”

“These stones typically assist in breaking down tough materials such as insect shells and plant matter, making them unneeded for softer prey.”

“Lastly, prior research suggested that Tapejara wellnhoferi, a close relative of Synopterus atavismus, had robust jaws adapted for consuming plants, reinforcing this conclusion.”

“Thus, phytoliths clearly indicate direct dietary intake, while gastroliths were utilized as tools for grinding plant material.”

The team’s paper is published in the October 15, 2025 issue of the journal Science Bulletin.

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Jiang Shunxin et al. 2025. First phytoliths discovered in pterosaurs – evidence of herbivory. Science Bulletin 70 (19): 3134-3138; doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2025.06.040

Source: www.sci.news

Arizona’s Unique Bone Bed Uncovers North America’s Earliest Known Pterosaurs

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Paleontologists have uncovered the fossilized jawbone of a newly identified pterosaur species, along with a multitude of fossils, including one of the world’s oldest turtles, in a secluded bone bed located within Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, USA.

Artist Reconstruction of Eotephradactylus chintireae, along with other animals and plants preserved in the bone beds of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA. Image credit: Brian Eng.

The newly discovered pterosaur species, Eotephradactylus chintireae, existed in what is now Arizona during the late Triassic period, approximately 209 million years ago.

“The winged reptile was small enough to comfortably perch on a person’s shoulder,” stated Dr. Ben Krigman from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.

“One of the most exciting aspects of this discovery was that the teeth remained intact in the bones, making the identification of these animals significantly easier,” added Suzanne McIntier, a volunteer preparer who dedicated 18 years at Fossil Lab at the National Museum of Natural History.

“The teeth-filled jaws provided crucial insights into the lifestyle of the earliest pterosaurs.”

“The worn tips of the teeth suggest a high likelihood that they consumed armored fish and other prey,” she explained.

Eotephradactylus chintireae coexisted with large amphibians, armored crocodile ancestors, frogs, and turtles.

In addition to this flying reptile, paleontologists have found over 1,200 individual fossils, which include bones, teeth, fish scales, and coprolites.

“This collection represents 16 different vertebrate groups that previously inhabited diverse ecosystems,” they noted.

“The braided rivers in this region were teeming with fish, such as freshwater sharks, coelacanths, and ancient amphibians.

The surrounding environment was also home to some of the formidable reptiles that evolved during the early Triassic, including giant alligator-like armored herbivores and predatory creatures.”

The newly identified bone bed is part of the Upper Sinru Formation in Petrified Forest National Park.

“This area of northeastern Arizona was situated in the heart of Pangaea on the supercontinent, positioned just above the equator 209 million years ago,” the researchers added.

“The semi-arid landscape was interspersed with small river channels, which were prone to seasonal flooding. These floods deposited sediment and volcanic ash into the channels.”

“One of these floods might have buried creatures that remain in the bone beds. The site is rich in small fossils, making it impossible to excavate all of them in the field.”

The research team believes the new site will help bridge gaps in the fossil record prior to the final extinction event (ETE).

“About 1.5 million years ago, volcanic eruptions linked to the fragmentation of Pangaea drastically altered the world’s climate and led to the extinction of approximately 75% of Earth’s species,” the scientists commented.

“This opened the door for new groups, such as dinosaurs, to emerge and thrive in ecosystems globally.”

“Due to the lack of fossil outcrops from just before the ETE, it is challenging to find direct evidence of this transition on land.”

“This site captures the shift toward a more modern terrestrial vertebrate community, marking the beginning of the flourishing of groups following the Mesozoic era, alongside these older species that survived into the Triassic period.”

“Such fossil beds provide evidence that all these animals coexisted.”

The team’s study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Ben T. Krigman et al. 2025. The extraordinary bone bed uncovers a vertebrate community with pterygoids and turtles in the equatorial Pangaea prior to terminal extinction. PNAS 122 (29): E2505513122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2505513122

Source: www.sci.news

Warm and Humid Climate Creates Ideal Conditions for Pterosaurs to Soar 220 Million Years Ago

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A recent study by paleontologists integrated data on the ancient climate of a specific region with fossil distribution information regarding Triassic eye pteraurauromorphs (pterosaurs + lagerpetids).

Foffa et al. Lagerpetids, alongside overall pterygoid morphospace, likely thrived in southwestern Pangaea (i.e. modern-day South America), indicating that pterosaurs may have originated at lower latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Image credit: James Kuether.

“Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight more than 60 million years ago—the oldest known birds,” stated Davide Foffa, a paleontologist from the University of Birmingham.

“Nevertheless, our comprehension of early pterosaur evolution is constrained by significant temporal and anatomical gaps separating these highly adapted flying reptiles from their closest terrestrial relatives.”

“The fossil records for pterosaurs and their related species remain incomplete, and fundamental aspects of early evolution, including timing, domains of existence, initial radiation, and the ecological context of paleontology, are not well understood compared to other contemporary groups such as dinosaurs.”

The researchers concentrated on the distribution of two closely related groups: Pterosaurs and Lagerpetids.

“Lagerpetids existed roughly 240 million years ago as a group of agile reptiles that lived in smaller land areas and among trees,” they noted.

“These small terrestrial reptiles are now recognized as the closest relatives to pterosaurs, and this study shows they endured a wider range of climatic conditions than their aerial counterparts, including the arid landscapes of ancient Pangaea.”

“This adaptability resulted in a broader distribution of this group.”

“Conversely, pterosaurs seemed to be restricted to humid environments found in limited regions of the ancient world, as evidenced by fossils discovered in modern-day Italy, Austria, and the southwestern United States.

During the late Triassic period, global climatic conditions began to change, with an increase in warm and humid environments outside the equatorial region.

This shift provided an opportunity for flying reptiles to expand across the globe, including present-day high-latitude areas such as Greenland and South America.

“While dinosaurs roamed the Earth, I find it fascinating to envision that these formidable reptiles ruled the skies during that era,” remarked Dr. Foffa.

“However, the origins of pterosaurs remain cloaked in mystery. Our research contributes new insights into this puzzle, proposing that early evolution among groups was likely influenced by shifting climates and environments during the Triassic.”

“Climate change significantly affects biodiversity, both today and throughout geological history,” stated Dr. Emma Dunn, a paleontologist at Friedrich Alexander Universitat Erlangen Nurnberg.

“Recent advancements in modeling techniques have enabled paleontologists to better understand how climate change has shaped the biodiversity of significant fossil groups like pterosaurs in just the past few years.”

“The combination of ecological models and fossil data is emphasized by Dr. Alessandro Chiarenza, paleontologist at University College London, who noted:

“Lagerpetids flourished as generalists, while pterosaurs, initially constrained to a humid tropical niche with possibly limited flight capabilities, occupied equatorial territories.”

“As the climate transformed and forest corridors emerged, their wings propelled them to every corner of the planet, ultimately allowing them to survive one of Earth’s greatest extinctions.”

“What started as a tale of lost fossils is evolving into a paradigmatic example of how paleoclimate, past climate, and evolutionary innovations intertwine, illuminating the complex history that has fascinated paleontologists for over two centuries.”

Study published in the journal Natural Ecology and Evolution.

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D. Foffa et al. Paleobiogeography of climate drivers and lagerpetids and early pterosaurs. Nat Ecol Evol published online on June 18th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41559-025-02767-8

Source: www.sci.news

Research: Multiple Groups of Pterosaurs Became Global 160 Million Years Ago

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Pterosaurs often glide above dinosaurs, but recent examinations of fossilized footprints reveal that some of these flying reptiles were equally adept at terrestrial movement.

Terrestrial migration and tracking morphology of vegetative eye type skeletal morphology: (a) Reconstruction of the ctenochasmatoid orbit Ctenochasma elegans walking with an ipsilateral gait, where the fore and hind legs on the same side move together as a pair. (b) Manual and pedal morphology of Ctenochasma elegans; PES is plant and pentadactyl, while Manus is digital grade, functionally triductyl as the large fourth digit supporting the outer wing is folded during terrestrial movement. (c) Height map of pterosaur manus and PES footprints in the holotype of Ichnotaxon Pteraichnus stokesi, showing a form that matches Ctenochasma elegans; (d) height maps from part of the Pterosaur trackway; Pteraichnus ISP. From the Upper Jurassic Casal Formation of Claysac, France. An outline drawing of (e) interpretation of Pteraichnus ISP. Scale bar – 20 mm in (c), 200 mm in (d) and (e). Image credit: Smith et al, doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.017.

“We have been diligently working to enhance our understanding of these creatures,” stated Robert Smith, a doctoral researcher at the University of Leicester.

“These findings provide insights into their habitats, movement patterns, and daily activities in ecosystems long since vanished.”

In this research, Smith and his team identified three distinct types of pterosaur footprints, each offering insights into various lifestyles and behaviors.

By correlating footprints with specific groups, a robust new method emerges to study how these flying reptiles thrived, migrated, and adapted to diverse ecosystems over time.

“Finally, 88 years after the initial discovery of Pterosaur tracks, we have pinpointed precisely who created them and how,” remarked Dr. David Unwin, Ph.D., from Leicester.

Perhaps the most striking revelation comes from a group of pterosaurs known as Neoazdalci. Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest flying creatures, boasts a wingspan of 10 meters.

Their footprints have been found in both coastal and inland areas worldwide, supporting the theory that these long-legged animals not only soared through the skies, but also inhabited the same environments as numerous dinosaur species.

Some of these tracks date back to an asteroid impact event 66 million years ago, coinciding with the extinction of both pterosaurs and dinosaurs.

Ctenochasmatoids, recognized for their elongated jaws and needle-like teeth, left footprints primarily found in coastal sediments.

These animals likely walked along muddy shores or shallow lagoons, employing unique feeding strategies to capture small fish and floating prey.

The prevalence of these tracks suggests that these coastal pterosaurs were far more common in these habitats than than the rare fossilized remains.

Another type of footprint was located in rock formations, where fossilized remains of the same pterosaur were also found.

The close association between footprints and skeletons offers compelling evidence for identifying the track makers.

These pterosaurs, known as Dsungaripterids, possessed robust limbs and jaws; their toothless, curved beaks were adept at securing prey, while their large, rounded teeth were ideal for crushing shellfish and other resilient foods.

“Footprints are often overlooked in Pterosaur studies, yet they yield a wealth of information about the behaviors and interactions of these creatures with their environment,” emphasized Smyth.

“A detailed analysis of these footprints allows us to uncover biological and ecological insights that other methods may not provide.”

The team’s paper was published in the journal Current Biology.

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Robert S. Smith et al. Identifying Pterosaur track makers provides crucial insights into Mesozoic terrestrial invasions. Current Biology, published online on May 1, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.017

Source: www.sci.news

Unusually short, stiff, pointed tails in Jurassic pterosaurs.

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Skifosoura Baybaritsa is a type of pterosaur that lived in what is now southern Germany about 149 million years ago, bridging the gap with earlier organisms. monophenestratan pterosaur and after that pterosaur.

Two people's lives restored Skifosoura Baybaritsa In flight. Image credit: Gabriel Uguet.

For 200 years, paleontologists have divided pterosaurs into two major groups: the early non-pterodactyls and the later, much larger pterodactyls.

Early pterosaurs had short necks, short heads, short bones at the wrists of the wings, fifth toes and long tails, but pterosaurs had the opposite: long necks, large heads, long wrists, and long tails. It had a short fifth finger. Toes and short tail.

However, it was unclear which parts of the body changed between these groups.

In the 2010s, a series of intermediate species called Darwinopterans were discovered, showing that their heads and necks changed before the rest of their bodies.

This was a great example of an intermediate individual filling an evolutionary gap.

But it also meant that we didn't really know what was happening before and after these changes.

Skifosoura Baybarica I'm going to sit between these earlier. Darwinopteran and pterodactyloid.

Although it retains a very pterodactyl-like head and neck, it has also been shown to have longer wrists and shorter toes and a tail than early Darwinpterans, but these are not as extreme as seen in pterodactyls. Not.

“This is an incredible discovery,” said lead author Dr. David Horne, a paleontologist at Queen Mary University of London.

“This will really help us understand how these amazing flying animals lived and evolved.”

“We hope this study will provide a basis for further future research on this important evolutionary transition.”

“Pterosaurs have long been symbols of a unique past life,” says co-author Dr. Adam Fitch, a paleontologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“Skifosoura Baybaritsa This represents an important new form for elucidating the evolutionary relationships of pterosaurs and, by extension, how this lineage arose and changed. ”

Almost complete, but fragmented specimen Skifosoura Baybaritsa It was discovered in 2015 in the Schaudiberg quarry near Mülheim, Bavaria, Germany.

Although specimens are preserved in three dimensions, most pterosaurs tend to be crushed flat. When alive, it had a wingspan of about 2 meters (6.6 feet), which is thought to have been similar to that of large birds such as golden eagles.

Co-author Dr René Lauer of the Lauer Foundation said: “The specimens were disjointed and often had overlapping bones of varying quality.''

“Digital photographs of the specimens taken in both visible and ultraviolet light greatly aided the process of identifying these elements and better analyzing details that cannot be discerned in normal sunlight alone.”

“The Lauer Foundation is proud to have the opportunity to bring this important specimen to science and further our understanding of pterosaur evolution,” added co-author Dr. Bruce Lauer of the Lauer Foundation. .

In addition to indicating the intermediate position of Skifosoura Baybaritsait has also been shown to be a species of Scottish pterosaur. dearkfits into a mirror position between early pterosaurs and the first Darwinopterans.

“In other words, we now have a complete evolutionary sequence from early pterosaurs to pterosaurs. dearkto the first Darwinopteran Skifosoradown to the pterodactyls,” the paleontologist said.

“Although not all specimens are complete, we are now able to track increases in head and neck size, wrist extensions, toe and tail reductions, and other features step-by-step across multiple groups. .”

“This is a great example of the evolution of a group whose transition has so far been far from clear-cut.”

“both deark and Skifosora It also suggests that the changes that allowed pterosaurs to reach giant sizes were also present in these transitional species. ”

of study Published in today's magazine current biology.

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david william elliott horn others. A new large monophenestratan reveals an evolutionary transition from pterosaurs to pterosaurs. current biologypublished online on November 18, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.10.023

Source: www.sci.news

Research finds that pterosaurs were well-suited for diverse terrestrial lifestyles

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A new study by palaeontologists from the Universities of Leicester, Birmingham, and Liverpool John Moores University shows that pterosaur limbs had an unexpectedly high degree of variation, comparable to that observed in living birds. The discovery demonstrates that pterosaurs were not limited to a life in the air but were also adapted to a wide range of terrestrial lives, from tree-climbing in early species to more terrestrial lives in later species.

Pterosaurs have adapted to a surprisingly wide range of non-aerial locomotion ecologies. Early small, long-tailed pterosaurs (not pterosaurs) showed extreme changes in hand and foot proportions, indicating a climbing lifestyle. In contrast, the hands and feet of later short-tailed pterosaurs (Pterosaurians) typically exhibit morphologies consistent with a more ground-based locomotor ecology. (A) Non-pterosaur antiquities restoration Scaphognathus crassirostris (Late Jurassic) in scansorial mode, with autosufficiency characterized by short proximal elements and elongated distal elements. (B) Restoration of Pterodactylis-type antiquities Balaenognathus maeuseri (Late Jurassic) In the terrestrial mode, the autopodia are characterized by an elongated proximal element and a shortened distal element. (C) Reconstruction of Scaphognathus (left) and Baleonognathus (Right) Rear view showing major flight surfaces. (D) Simplified pterosaur phylogeny showing the major taxa used in the study. Image credit: Smith others., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.09.014.

Pterosaurs, the first true flying vertebrates, played an important role in Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems.

However, our current understanding of their terrestrial locomotion abilities, and more broadly their terrestrial paleoecology, is limited.

Robert Smith, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Leicester, said: “Early pterosaurs were highly specialized for climbing and had extreme modifications to their limbs, similar to those seen in today’s climbing lizards and birds such as woodpeckers. It’s the same,” he said.

“Holding on to a vertical surface with your fingertips for long periods of time is a difficult task, but it’s much easier for smaller, lighter animals.”

“These early pterosaurs were likely restricted to arboreal habitats, and as a result, their body size was small.”

“However, during the mid-Jurassic period, a major evolutionary change occurred, and pterosaurs’ hands and feet changed to more closely resemble those of land-dwelling animals.”

“These adaptations to terrestrial locomotion have opened up new ecological opportunities and given rise to a wide variety of feeding strategies.”

Freed from the size constraints imposed by vertical living, some pterosaurs were able to evolve to gigantic sizes with wingspans of up to 10 meters.

Dr David Unwin, a researcher at the University of Leicester, said: “In early pterosaurs, the hind limbs were connected by a flight membrane, which severely hindered walking and running.”

“In later, more advanced pterosaurs, this membrane separated along the midline, allowing each hindlimb to move independently.”

“This was an important innovation, and together with the changes in the hands and feet, it greatly increased the maneuverability of pterosaurs on land.”

“These later pterosaurs were freed from the constraints of climbing and were able to grow to enormous sizes, making some species the true giants of the Mesozoic Era.”

In early pterosaurs, the bones at the base of the fingers and toes were relatively short, and the parts farther from the body were very long, terminating in large, curved claws. These improvements created a strong grip, making it ideal for climbing trees.

In contrast, later, more evolved pterosaurs showed the opposite pattern. That is, the bones at the base of the fingers and toes were much longer, and those closer to the tips were shorter.

Their claws are also flatter and less curved, suggesting they are better suited for walking than climbing.

“These discoveries highlight the need to examine all aspects of pterosaur locomotion, not just flight, to fully understand pterosaur evolution. It’s just part of our history,” Smith said.

“By studying how they lived in trees and on the ground, we can begin to understand the role they played in ancient ecosystems.”

“When pterosaurs arrived on Earth, it was already inhabited by a wide range of animals, including dinosaurs and many other reptiles.”

“Pterosaurs cleverly avoided competition with these established groups by exploiting ecological niches that required both the ability to fly and walk.”

“This resulted in some strange feeding strategies, including the evolution of hundreds of thin, needle-like teeth used for filter feeding.”

“This surprising feature is similar to the feeding method of modern flamingos and appeared at least 120 million years before the first flamingos evolved.”

of study Published in a magazine current biology.

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Robert S.H. Smith others. Morphology of limbs showing the invasion of terrestrial environments by pterosaurs in the mid-Mesozoic era. current biologypublished online on October 4, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.09.014

Source: www.sci.news

New study shows pterosaurs utilized all four limbs for flight propulsion

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Take-off is a key part of powered flight and likely constrains the size of birds, although extinct pterosaurs are known to have grown to much larger sizes. Three different hypothesized take-off movements have been proposed to allow pterosaurs to fly: a vertical burst jump using only the legs similar to those used by mostly ground-dwelling birds, a less vertical jump using only the legs similar to those used by birds that fly frequently, and a quadruped jump using the wings as well in a movement similar to the take-off jump of a bat. Palaeontologists from the University of Bristol, Liverpool John Moores University, ABC Federal University and Keele University built a computational musculoskeletal model of an avian pterosaur with a five-metre wingspan, reconstructed 34 major muscles and estimated muscle moment arms across the three hypothesized take-off movements.

One-second takeoff sequences used in the study highlighting the key phases: (A) Bipedal burst style takeoff highlighting the timing of the crouch, ankle lift, and launch phases. (B) Bipedal recoil style takeoff highlighting the timing of the countermotion and launch phases. (C) Quadrupedal recoil style takeoff highlighting the crouch, leap, and launch phases. Images courtesy of Griffin others., doi: 10.7717/peerj.17678.

“Powered flight is a form of locomotion that is restricted to only a small number of animals because it is energy-intensive, requires specialized adaptations to take off and requires lift to support thrust and weight,” Dr Benjamin Griffin from the University of Bristol and his colleagues said.

“The most energy-intensive part of powered flight is take-off from the ground. During this stage, the animal needs to get high enough into the air to be able to utilize an unimpeded flapping cycle.”

“Take-off also requires the animal to gain enough speed so that the wings can overcome drag (i.e. thrust) and generate enough lift to support the animal's weight.”

“As size increases, so do altitude and speed requirements, limiting the takeoff size of flying animals.”

“Modern flying animals do not have a mass greater than 25 kg. The heaviest flying animals were Bustard (Otis Tarda)It was recorded to have weighed 22kg.

“Despite this, many extinct animals grew large bodies and are still thought to be capable of flight. Argentavis magnificens and Pelagornis sandersi They are predicted to have masses of 70 kg and 21.8 to 40 kg, respectively.”

“Pterosaurs vary in size, with medium-sized pterosaurs predicted to have a wingspan of 2-5 metres and weigh between 20 and 30 kilograms.”

“They also reached the largest sizes among the largest animals, such as pterosaurs. Quetzalcoatlus Northropii It is predicted to have reached a much larger mass (150 kg, or more commonly 250 kg).”

“Flight at such a large mass challenges our understanding of the functional limits of flight, and understanding pterosaur take-off is crucial for establishing the functional limits of biological flight.”

This new research follows years of analysis and modeling of how muscles in other animals interact with bones to produce movement, which are beginning to be used to answer the question of how the largest known flying animals were able to take off from the ground.

The authors created the first computer model of this kind for a pterosaur analysis, to test three different ways that pterosaurs might have taken flight.

By mimicking this movement, the researchers hoped to understand the leverage principles that could be used to propel the animal into the air.

“Larger animals have to overcome greater obstacles to fly, which is why the ability of large animals like pterosaurs to fly is particularly intriguing,” Dr Griffin said.

“Our model shows that unlike birds, which rely primarily on their hind limbs, pterosaurs likely relied on all four limbs to take to the air.”

of Investigation result Published in the journal Peer J.

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BW Griffin others2024. Modelling the take-off moment arm of an ornithosaur. Peer J 12: e17678; doi: 10.7717/peerj.17678

Source: www.sci.news

Australian pterosaurs possessed large tongues for consuming prey.

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Illustration of the newly identified species, Haliskia petersenii

Gabriel Ugueto

A 100-million-year-old pterosaur fossil discovered in Australia may have had the largest, most muscular tongue of its kind.

The fossil was discovered in 2021 by Kevin Pietersen, curator at Kronosaurus Corner, a museum near the Queensland outback town of Richmond.

Typically, with a pterosaur, a flying reptile that lived on Earth at the same time as the dinosaurs, you’d find just one bone, Petersen said. “But as we started digging, we started finding more and more bones, and we realized we had to work very carefully,” he said.

Nearly a quarter of the skeleton has been recovered, making it the most complete pterosaur yet discovered by Australian scientists.

The entire lower jaw, part of the upper jaw, vertebrae, ribs, leg and foot bones were preserved, but most surprising was the preservation of an extremely delicate throat bone, just a few millimetres in diameter, which Petersen says reminded him of spaghetti.

Lead team Adele Pentland Researchers from Curtin University in Perth identified the fossil as belonging to an entirely new genus and species of pterosaur in the Anhangeria family, which are found around the world. The creature had an estimated wingspan of 4.6 metres. In Petersen’s honour, the fossil has been named “Anhangeria”. Haliskia petersenii.

Though it wasn’t related to any bird, Petersen said it would have looked a bit like a giant pelican, but Pentland said it would have been a “devil pelican” because of its mouth full of sharp teeth.

What sets it up H. Petersenyi What sets this dinosaur apart from other known pterosaurs is that it had much larger throat bones, indicating it had a huge, muscular tongue, Pentland said.

The team believes that the tongue was used to capture and hold prey, possibly slippery animals such as squid or fish. Once the prey was grasped in the jaws, H. Petersenyi Pentland says the dinosaur’s teeth would have closed like a zipper or cage, preventing escape.

Like pelicans, it likely swallowed its prey whole, she says, and its tongue would have also been used to shove the food down its throat.

In the Cretaceous H. Petersenyi At the time, what is now inland Queensland was covered by sea, which served as hunting grounds for pterosaurs.

“It’s truly breathtaking to look at the remains of these fossil animals and imagine the wealth of life that must have been there at that time and how different it must have been to what we see in outback Queensland today,” Pentland says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Pterosaurs from the Jurassic period had wingspans of at least 10 feet

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A team of paleontologists Ctenochasmatoid pterosaur Discovered in the Kimmeridg Clay of Oxfordshire in central England, this specimen is one of the largest Jurassic pterosaur fossils, with an estimated wingspan of at least 3 metres (10 ft), and is the first pterodactyl pterosaur described from the Jurassic of Britain.

Partial wingspan profiles of large Jurassic pterosaurs: pterodactyloides (left), including the new fossil (EC K2576), and rhamphorhynchids (right). Image courtesy of Etienne others., doi: 10.1016/j.pgeola.2024.05.002.

Pterosaurs were flying reptiles of the Mesozoic era characterized by a flight membrane stretched between their forelimbs and hindlimbs and an extremely elongated fourth digit consisting of four elongated phalanges.

The largest Cretaceous form was Aramburgiana, Hatzegopteryx and QuetzalcoatlusThe combined wingspan reached a length of over 10 metres (33 ft).

However, Triassic and Jurassic forms were considerably smaller, with a typical wingspan of 0.5 to 2 metres (1.6 to 6.5 ft).

There is evidence that some Jurassic species also achieved large wingspans, but these rarely exceeded 3 metres (10 ft).

The new pterosaur fossil was discovered in the Kimmeridge Clay near Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England.

This specimen is a wing bone, broken into three pieces but still well preserved.

The team said the dinosaur belonged to adult Ctenophora, a group of pterosaurs known for their elongated wings, long jaws and thin, bristle-like teeth.

“When the bones were discovered their size was certainly remarkable,” said Professor David Martill, from the University of Portsmouth.

“We performed numerical analysis and came up with a maximum wingspan of 3.75 meters (12.3 feet).”

“This is small for a Cretaceous pterosaur, but absolutely gigantic for a Jurassic one.”

“This fossil is particularly special as it is also one of the first records of this type of Jurassic pterosaur in the UK.”

“This specimen is currently the largest known Jurassic pterosaur in the world, surpassed only by a Swiss specimen, with an estimated wingspan of 5 metres (16.4 feet).”

“AbFab, as the Abingdon pterosaur is nicknamed, shows that pterodactyloides, the advanced pterosaurs that completely dominated the Cretaceous period, achieved astonishingly large sizes shortly after they first appeared in the Middle Jurassic, just as the ancestors of bird-like dinosaurs were beginning to take to the air,” said Dr Dave Unwin from the University of Leicester.

a paper The paper on the survey results is Proceedings of the Association of Geologists.

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James L. Etienne others“Giant” pterodactyloid pterosaur that lived in the Jurassic of Britain. Proceedings of the Association of GeologistsPublished online May 24, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.pgeola.2024.05.002

Source: www.sci.news