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Mark Witton (or "Yes Virginia, Giant Pterosaurs Really Did Fly")

Started by Simon, June 01, 2018, 05:42:25 AM

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Simon

June 01, 2018, 05:42:25 AM
Why we think giant pterosaurs could fly - by Mark Witton

"Every so often the idea of flightless giant pterosaurs circulates in the press or on social media. It doesn't take much to ignite these discussions: a new giant pterosaur fossil, a PR event from a museum, or simply artwork emphasising the size of giant flying reptiles will see someone, somewhere, questioning their flightworthiness. These suggestions are often made with strong conviction, to the extent of dismissing or even arguing with scientists who study pterosaur anatomy and biomechanics. After all, how can any sensible individual think that animals with 10 m wingspans and body masses hovering around 250 kg were capable of flight? At most they were gliders, or flighted as juveniles and flightless as adults, right?"

*SNIP* Read the REST of the story at the link below:  ;)

http://markwitton-com.blogspot.com/2018/05/why-we-think-giant-pterosaurs-could-fly.html

ZoPteryx

#1
June 03, 2018, 06:39:26 AM
Great article, required reading for anyone with an interest in pterosaurs!  ;D

JohannesB

#2
June 03, 2018, 04:27:49 PM
Awesomely beautiful animals and a great article!

Neosodon

#3
June 03, 2018, 07:29:57 PM
If they couldn't fly they wouldn't have been around. An animal with a wing span of 10 meters wouldn't be gliding around from tree branch to tree branch. The long neck and large head makes it look rather unbalanced though. I wonder if it would tuck its neck in or something while flying.

"3,000 km to the south, the massive comet crashes into Earth. The light from the impact fades in silence. Then the shock waves arrive. Next comes the blast front. Finally a rain of molten rock starts to fall out of the darkening sky - this is the end of the age of the dinosaurs. The Comet struck the Gulf of Mexico with the force of 10 billion Hiroshima bombs. And with the catastrophic climate changes that followed 65% of all life died out. It took millions of years for the earth to recover but when it did the giant dinosaurs were gone - never to return." - WWD

Simon

#4
June 04, 2018, 01:16:32 AM
Quote from: Neosodon on June 03, 2018, 07:29:57 PM
If they couldn't fly they wouldn't have been around. An animal with a wing span of 10 meters wouldn't be gliding around from tree branch to tree branch. The long neck and large head makes it look rather unbalanced though. I wonder if it would tuck its neck in or something while flying.

Probably something like this?

ZoPteryx

#5
June 04, 2018, 02:03:05 AM
Quote from: Neosodon on June 03, 2018, 07:29:57 PM
If they couldn't fly they wouldn't have been around. An animal with a wing span of 10 meters wouldn't be gliding around from tree branch to tree branch. The long neck and large head makes it look rather unbalanced though. I wonder if it would tuck its neck in or something while flying.

Probably not.  Azhdarchid necks don't strike me as looking all that flexible, especially considering how long and tubular their cervical verts were.



Neck posture in flight was probably more akin to cranes.

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