There was never much of a Rockhouse impression of pterosaurs beyond they're big, they bite, but they don't fly worth a damn. It turns out only one of those estimations is anywhere near accurate. (Science Daily: Giant flying reptile ruled ancient Transylvania)
They're not just big; they're huge. They don't just bite; they can eat a full-grown man as an appetizer. They are excellent, highly-skilled fliers.
A giraffe and human show the scale of a long-necked azhdarchid Arambourgiania (centre) and the 'new look' short-necked Hatzegopteryx (right).
Credit: Dr Mark Witton, University of Portsmouth
- SD
It doesn't matter much if you're hungry; it matters a lot if he is.
He said: "The difference in structural properties between giant azhdarchid neck bones is remarkable -- they're in different biomechanical leagues, with Hatzegopteryx many times stronger than anything else on record. This, along with our calculations of neck length and muscle mass, suggests giant azhdarchids may have been radically different in appearance and behaviour.
"The large, reinforced skeleton and muscle power would have made it a formidable predator of other animals when stalking ancient prairies and woodlands. It may have even been capable of attacking animals too large or vigorous for other flying reptiles, even the other giants."
- SD
The other giants may have a chance but you're gone before breakfast. In fact, you are breakfast.
Another issue that has been difficult to understand is how they took off. Earlier suggestions were that pterosaurs were largely cold-blooded gliding animals, deriving warmth from the environment like modern lizards, rather than burning calories. In this case, it was unclear how the larger ones of enormous size, with an inefficient cold-blooded metabolism, could manage a bird-like takeoff strategy, using only the hind limbs to generate thrust for getting airborne. Later research shows them instead as being warm-blooded and having powerful flight muscles, and using the flight muscles for walking as quadrupeds. Mark Witton of the University of Portsmouth and Mike Habib of Johns Hopkins University suggested that pterosaurs used a vaulting mechanism to obtain flight. The tremendous power of their winged forelimbs would enable them to take off with ease. Once aloft, pterosaurs could reach speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) and travel thousands of kilometres.
WIKI: Pterosaur
Think of a prairie dog but not in terms of what they look like; think of being one. Do keep an eye on the sky, li'l doggie.
They're not just big; they're huge. They don't just bite; they can eat a full-grown man as an appetizer. They are excellent, highly-skilled fliers.
A giraffe and human show the scale of a long-necked azhdarchid Arambourgiania (centre) and the 'new look' short-necked Hatzegopteryx (right).
Credit: Dr Mark Witton, University of Portsmouth
- SD
It doesn't matter much if you're hungry; it matters a lot if he is.
He said: "The difference in structural properties between giant azhdarchid neck bones is remarkable -- they're in different biomechanical leagues, with Hatzegopteryx many times stronger than anything else on record. This, along with our calculations of neck length and muscle mass, suggests giant azhdarchids may have been radically different in appearance and behaviour.
"The large, reinforced skeleton and muscle power would have made it a formidable predator of other animals when stalking ancient prairies and woodlands. It may have even been capable of attacking animals too large or vigorous for other flying reptiles, even the other giants."
- SD
The other giants may have a chance but you're gone before breakfast. In fact, you are breakfast.
Another issue that has been difficult to understand is how they took off. Earlier suggestions were that pterosaurs were largely cold-blooded gliding animals, deriving warmth from the environment like modern lizards, rather than burning calories. In this case, it was unclear how the larger ones of enormous size, with an inefficient cold-blooded metabolism, could manage a bird-like takeoff strategy, using only the hind limbs to generate thrust for getting airborne. Later research shows them instead as being warm-blooded and having powerful flight muscles, and using the flight muscles for walking as quadrupeds. Mark Witton of the University of Portsmouth and Mike Habib of Johns Hopkins University suggested that pterosaurs used a vaulting mechanism to obtain flight. The tremendous power of their winged forelimbs would enable them to take off with ease. Once aloft, pterosaurs could reach speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) and travel thousands of kilometres.
WIKI: Pterosaur
Think of a prairie dog but not in terms of what they look like; think of being one. Do keep an eye on the sky, li'l doggie.
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