Pterosaurs Stranger Than Ever

Discovery Channel ^ | Oct. 9, 2003 | Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News

[VadeRetro]

New pterosaur fossils and studies are revealing just how unusual these huge, flying reptiles from the dinosaur era were.

Based on current findings, many pterosaurs, which lived on nearly every continent during the Mesozoic Era from approximately 248 million to 65 million years ago, possessed tweezer-like heads, body fur and incredibly large, varied head crests.

The recent discoveries, outlined in the current issue of Biologist, also suggest that pterosaurs walked on four limbs instead of two, as previously believed. Paleontologists have struggled with this issue, due to the bat-like way the flying reptile's wings were attached to its fore-limbs and hind-limbs.

[VadeRetro]

Pterosaur ping!

[VadeRetro]

[KarlInOhio]

Bennett supports the Biologist assessment of the head crests, which he thinks were used as display structures to attract mates and/or to intimidate rivals.

He said, "I know if I had one of those, women would be throwing themselves at me, convinced of my sexual prowess and reproductive fitness, and men would shrink from me, sure that my strength greatly exceeded theirs."

[ClearCase_guy]

Paleobiologists are interesting people:

Bennett supports the Biologist assessment of the head crests, which he thinks were used as display structures to attract mates and/or to intimidate rivals. He said, "I know if I had one of those, women would be throwing themselves at me, convinced of my sexual prowess and reproductive fitness, and men would shrink from me, sure that my strength greatly exceeded theirs."

Ross on "Friends" might say something like that.

[ClearCase_guy]

Beat me to it by seconds!

[Paradox]

Currently discredited theory had the Dinosaurs evolving into modern day birds. In actuality, they evolved into Democrats..

[PatrickHenry]

PING. [This ping list is for the evolution side of evolution threads, and sometimes for other science topics. FReepmail me to be added or dropped.]

[BibChr]

What kind of reception d'you suppose he got on that thing?

Dan

[xJones]

Now they claim, "Prominent muscle attachment sites on the arm, shoulder and chest bones show that pterosaurs were active 'flappers.'"

The flapping must have stirred up quite a wind, as the wingspan of some large species, such as the pterodactyl, could reach 36 to 39 feet.

"How American West Got It's Start..."

[VadeRetro]

What kind of reception d'you suppose he got on that thing?

Looks like he oughta be able to get Bejing on LF.

[VadeRetro]

" ... men would shrink from me, sure that my strength greatly exceeded theirs."

If you can carry that thing around all day, you're no 90-lb weakling!

[js1138]

Let's hear it for visionary toymakers. Is Barnisaurus next?

[VadeRetro]

My pterosaur can beat up your frog. (OK, it didn't exactly outlive it.)

[general_re]

[sphinx]

Currently discredited theory had the Dinosaurs evolving into modern day birds. In actuality, they evolved into Democrats..

No reason to insult the Dinos. It's a case of devolution. The Democrats once were men ....

[VadeRetro]

Tinfoil. You can make a better one with tinfoil and it protects your mind from thought control waves at the same time. Bounces them right back to the sender.

[PatrickHenry]

My pterosaur can beat up your frog.

Violence is against the rules of this forum.

Poophead!

[KarlInOhio]

Dinos? A you talking about dinosaurs or DINOs? :-)

[StriperSniper]

Now they claim, "Prominent muscle attachment sites on the arm, shoulder and chest bones show that pterosaurs were active 'flappers.'"

I can see that.