Pterosaurs evolved a muscular wing–body junction providing
multifaceted flight performance benefits: Advanced aerodynamic
smoothing, sophisticated wing root control, and wing force generation.
Abstract
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrate flyers and lived for over 160
million years. However, aspects of their flight anatomy and flight performance remain unclear. Using laser-stimulated fluorescence, we
observed direct soft tissue evidence of a wing root fairing in a
pterosaur, a feature that smooths out the wing–body junction, reducing associated drag, as in modern aircraft and flying animals. Unlike bats
and birds, the pterosaur wing root fairing was unique in being
primarily made of muscle rather than fur or feathers. As a muscular
feature, pterosaurs appear to have used their fairing to access
further flight performance benefits through sophisticated control of
their wing root and contributions to wing elevation and/or anterior
wing motion during the flight stroke. This study underscores the value
of using new instrumentation to fill knowledge gaps in pterosaur
flight anatomy and evolution.
Open access:
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/44/e2107631118
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 1:58:24 PM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:
Pterosaurs evolved a muscular wing–body junction providing
multifaceted flight performance benefits: Advanced aerodynamic
smoothing, sophisticated wing root control, and wing force generation.
Abstract
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrate flyers and lived for over 160
million years. However, aspects of their flight anatomy and flight
performance remain unclear. Using laser-stimulated fluorescence, we
observed direct soft tissue evidence of a wing root fairing in a
pterosaur, a feature that smooths out the wing–body junction, reducing
associated drag, as in modern aircraft and flying animals. Unlike bats
and birds, the pterosaur wing root fairing was unique in being
primarily made of muscle rather than fur or feathers. As a muscular
feature, pterosaurs appear to have used their fairing to access
further flight performance benefits through sophisticated control of
their wing root and contributions to wing elevation and/or anterior
wing motion during the flight stroke. This study underscores the value
of using new instrumentation to fill knowledge gaps in pterosaur
flight anatomy and evolution.
Open access:
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/44/e2107631118
Excellent, thanks Pandora. I'm too rushed to read all, but a question. Did it have a long boney tail
(thus compressional perching as seen in early pterosaurs, avians & anthropoids), or, did it have
tendon-locking toes for upright perching & plucking and tail-lessening as in later pterosaurs, avians
and hominoids? I suspect the latter, and expect the soft-tissue fairing indicated very advanced
aerodynamic specialization not seen in early species. DD
On Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:06:22 -0700 (PDT), Daud DedenYes, a nimble flying insectivore, comparable to songbirds, swifts, small bats. I wonder if it had derived specialized ears (acoustic, aerodynamic balance) vs more primitive spp.
<daud....@gmail.com> wrote:
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 1:58:24 PM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:
Pterosaurs evolved a muscular wing–body junction providing
multifaceted flight performance benefits: Advanced aerodynamic
smoothing, sophisticated wing root control, and wing force generation.
Abstract
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrate flyers and lived for over 160
million years. However, aspects of their flight anatomy and flight
performance remain unclear. Using laser-stimulated fluorescence, we
observed direct soft tissue evidence of a wing root fairing in a
pterosaur, a feature that smooths out the wing–body junction, reducing >> associated drag, as in modern aircraft and flying animals. Unlike bats
and birds, the pterosaur wing root fairing was unique in being
primarily made of muscle rather than fur or feathers. As a muscular
feature, pterosaurs appear to have used their fairing to access
further flight performance benefits through sophisticated control of
their wing root and contributions to wing elevation and/or anterior
wing motion during the flight stroke. This study underscores the value
of using new instrumentation to fill knowledge gaps in pterosaur
flight anatomy and evolution.
Open access:
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/44/e2107631118
Excellent, thanks Pandora. I'm too rushed to read all, but a question. Did it have a long boney tailIt's a pterodactyloid, therefore short-tailed.
(thus compressional perching as seen in early pterosaurs, avians & anthropoids), or, did it have
tendon-locking toes for upright perching & plucking and tail-lessening as in later pterosaurs, avians
and hominoids? I suspect the latter, and expect the soft-tissue fairing indicated very advanced
aerodynamic specialization not seen in early species. DD
On Friday, October 22, 2021 at 11:19:45 AM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:
On Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:06:22 -0700 (PDT), Daud Deden
<daud....@gmail.com> wrote:
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 1:58:24 PM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:
Pterosaurs evolved a muscular wing–body junction providing
multifaceted flight performance benefits: Advanced aerodynamic
smoothing, sophisticated wing root control, and wing force generation. >>
Abstract
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrate flyers and lived for over 160
million years. However, aspects of their flight anatomy and flight
performance remain unclear. Using laser-stimulated fluorescence, we
observed direct soft tissue evidence of a wing root fairing in a
pterosaur, a feature that smooths out the wing–body junction, reducing
associated drag, as in modern aircraft and flying animals. Unlike bats >> and birds, the pterosaur wing root fairing was unique in being
primarily made of muscle rather than fur or feathers. As a muscular
feature, pterosaurs appear to have used their fairing to access
further flight performance benefits through sophisticated control of
their wing root and contributions to wing elevation and/or anterior
wing motion during the flight stroke. This study underscores the value >> of using new instrumentation to fill knowledge gaps in pterosaur
flight anatomy and evolution.
Open access:
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/44/e2107631118
Yes, a nimble flying insectivore, comparable to songbirds, swifts, small bats. I wonder if it had derived specialized ears (acoustic, aerodynamic balance) vs more primitive spp.Excellent, thanks Pandora. I'm too rushed to read all, but a question. Did it have a long boney tailIt's a pterodactyloid, therefore short-tailed.
(thus compressional perching as seen in early pterosaurs, avians & anthropoids), or, did it have
tendon-locking toes for upright perching & plucking and tail-lessening as in later pterosaurs, avians
and hominoids? I suspect the latter, and expect the soft-tissue fairing indicated very advanced
aerodynamic specialization not seen in early species. DD
On Friday, October 22, 2021 at 12:56:31 PM UTC-4, Daud Deden wrote:Some sources claim pterosaurs were quadrupedal, some bipedal.
On Friday, October 22, 2021 at 11:19:45 AM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:
On Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:06:22 -0700 (PDT), Daud Deden <daud....@gmail.com> wrote:
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 1:58:24 PM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:
Pterosaurs evolved a muscular wing–body junction providing
multifaceted flight performance benefits: Advanced aerodynamic
smoothing, sophisticated wing root control, and wing force generation.
Abstract
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrate flyers and lived for over 160
million years. However, aspects of their flight anatomy and flight
performance remain unclear. Using laser-stimulated fluorescence, we >> observed direct soft tissue evidence of a wing root fairing in a
pterosaur, a feature that smooths out the wing–body junction, reducing
associated drag, as in modern aircraft and flying animals. Unlike bats
and birds, the pterosaur wing root fairing was unique in being
primarily made of muscle rather than fur or feathers. As a muscular >> feature, pterosaurs appear to have used their fairing to access
further flight performance benefits through sophisticated control of >> their wing root and contributions to wing elevation and/or anterior >> wing motion during the flight stroke. This study underscores the value
of using new instrumentation to fill knowledge gaps in pterosaur
flight anatomy and evolution.
Open access:
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/44/e2107631118
Did later pterosaurs (eg. reduced teeth tailless climbing Pterodactylus, toothless tailless pterodon) lay eggs on the ground like early pterosaurs penguin-like or in arboreal bowl nests? How can that be determined?Yes, a nimble flying insectivore, comparable to songbirds, swifts, small bats. I wonder if it had derived specialized ears (acoustic, aerodynamic balance) vs more primitive spp.Excellent, thanks Pandora. I'm too rushed to read all, but a question. Did it have a long boney tailIt's a pterodactyloid, therefore short-tailed.
(thus compressional perching as seen in early pterosaurs, avians & anthropoids), or, did it have
tendon-locking toes for upright perching & plucking and tail-lessening as in later pterosaurs, avians
and hominoids? I suspect the latter, and expect the soft-tissue fairing indicated very advanced
aerodynamic specialization not seen in early species. DD
On Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 4:52:25 AM UTC-4, Daud Deden wrote:
On Friday, October 22, 2021 at 12:56:31 PM UTC-4, Daud Deden wrote:Some sources claim pterosaurs were quadrupedal, some bipedal.
On Friday, October 22, 2021 at 11:19:45 AM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:Did later pterosaurs (eg. reduced teeth tailless climbing Pterodactylus, toothless tailless pterodon) lay eggs on the ground like early pterosaurs penguin-like or in arboreal bowl nests? How can that be determined?
On Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:06:22 -0700 (PDT), Daud DedenYes, a nimble flying insectivore, comparable to songbirds, swifts, small bats. I wonder if it had derived specialized ears (acoustic, aerodynamic balance) vs more primitive spp.
<daud....@gmail.com> wrote:
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 1:58:24 PM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:It's a pterodactyloid, therefore short-tailed.
Pterosaurs evolved a muscular wing–body junction providing
multifaceted flight performance benefits: Advanced aerodynamic
smoothing, sophisticated wing root control, and wing force generation.
Abstract
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrate flyers and lived for over 160
million years. However, aspects of their flight anatomy and flight
performance remain unclear. Using laser-stimulated fluorescence, we >> > > >> observed direct soft tissue evidence of a wing root fairing in a
pterosaur, a feature that smooths out the wing–body junction, reducing
associated drag, as in modern aircraft and flying animals. Unlike bats
and birds, the pterosaur wing root fairing was unique in being
primarily made of muscle rather than fur or feathers. As a muscular >> > > >> feature, pterosaurs appear to have used their fairing to access
further flight performance benefits through sophisticated control of >> > > >> their wing root and contributions to wing elevation and/or anterior >> > > >> wing motion during the flight stroke. This study underscores the value
of using new instrumentation to fill knowledge gaps in pterosaur
flight anatomy and evolution.
Open access:
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/44/e2107631118
Excellent, thanks Pandora. I'm too rushed to read all, but a question. Did it have a long boney tail
(thus compressional perching as seen in early pterosaurs, avians & anthropoids), or, did it have
tendon-locking toes for upright perching & plucking and tail-lessening as in later pterosaurs, avians
and hominoids? I suspect the latter, and expect the soft-tissue fairing indicated very advanced
aerodynamic specialization not seen in early species. DD
On Wed, 27 Oct 2021 22:20:33 -0700 (PDT), Daud Deden
<daud....@gmail.com> wrote:
On Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 4:52:25 AM UTC-4, Daud Deden wrote:See:
On Friday, October 22, 2021 at 12:56:31 PM UTC-4, Daud Deden wrote:Some sources claim pterosaurs were quadrupedal, some bipedal.
On Friday, October 22, 2021 at 11:19:45 AM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:Did later pterosaurs (eg. reduced teeth tailless climbing Pterodactylus, toothless tailless pterodon) lay eggs on the ground like early pterosaurs penguin-like or in arboreal bowl nests? How can that be determined?
On Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:06:22 -0700 (PDT), Daud DedenYes, a nimble flying insectivore, comparable to songbirds, swifts, small bats. I wonder if it had derived specialized ears (acoustic, aerodynamic balance) vs more primitive spp.
<daud....@gmail.com> wrote:
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 1:58:24 PM UTC-4, Pandora wrote:It's a pterodactyloid, therefore short-tailed.
Pterosaurs evolved a muscular wing–body junction providing
multifaceted flight performance benefits: Advanced aerodynamic
smoothing, sophisticated wing root control, and wing force generation.
Abstract
Pterosaurs were the first vertebrate flyers and lived for over 160 >> > > >> million years. However, aspects of their flight anatomy and flight >> > > >> performance remain unclear. Using laser-stimulated fluorescence, we
observed direct soft tissue evidence of a wing root fairing in a >> > > >> pterosaur, a feature that smooths out the wing–body junction, reducing
associated drag, as in modern aircraft and flying animals. Unlike bats
and birds, the pterosaur wing root fairing was unique in being
primarily made of muscle rather than fur or feathers. As a muscular
feature, pterosaurs appear to have used their fairing to access
further flight performance benefits through sophisticated control of
their wing root and contributions to wing elevation and/or anterior
wing motion during the flight stroke. This study underscores the value
of using new instrumentation to fill knowledge gaps in pterosaur >> > > >> flight anatomy and evolution.
Open access:
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/44/e2107631118
Excellent, thanks Pandora. I'm too rushed to read all, but a question. Did it have a long boney tail
(thus compressional perching as seen in early pterosaurs, avians & anthropoids), or, did it have
tendon-locking toes for upright perching & plucking and tail-lessening as in later pterosaurs, avians
and hominoids? I suspect the latter, and expect the soft-tissue fairing indicated very advanced
aerodynamic specialization not seen in early species. DD
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016699520300024
"After two centuries of debate, ichnological arguments have led
today to an almost global consensus on the terrestrial locomotion
of pterodactyloid pterosaurs. When grounded, they were quadrupedal
animals, with plantigrade tetradactyl pes, digitigrade tridactyl
manus, erect parasagittal hindlimbs and more or less sprawled
forelimbs due to the large folded wing digit."
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