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]

I think front-ended control surfaces (ahead of the center of gravity) tend to be de-stabilizing. At least, that's what tended to happen with my Estes model rockets that weren't too carefully balanced.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

It's a case of devolution.

A proven concept.

Are we not men?

[RightWhale]

Do not run with Pterosaurs in your hand.

[BushMeister]

Here's the first photograph ever taken of a live Pterosaur!

[doodad]

The Pterosaurs were really red Xs? I must be Sgt Schultz...I see nothing.

[decimon]

Vertical stabilizer and steering device?

Well, if it looks like a sail...

[cookcounty]

"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."

Ah, the "Just so" stories just keep on rolling in. It will take about 3 weeks for the bio-educrats to strip out "Bennet thinks..." and replace it with "Science says.."

[UCANSEE2]

The head crests are not just decorative, or mate-attractors.
They are an essential part of the aerodynamics of the creature. They have no TAIL, therefore they must have some form of structure to allow guidance. The Head crest provides that TAIL GUIDANCE STRUCTURE at the front, instead of at the rear.

[UCANSEE2]

Others seem to mention the same thing, but some object to the guidance structure at the front, saying it would be unstable.

Ask Burt Rutan why the CANARD works at the front, instead of being at the rear.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[UCANSEE2]

One must consider the canard on modern jets. Why does this work ?

[VadeRetro]

One must consider the canard on modern jets. Why does this work ?

A lot of modern jets are computer controlled and are unflyable by mere human reactions. I think the canard, by introducing an instability, allows the craft to be extremely responsive when you want to turn quickly. The computer's job is to suppress by counter-commands all the times the bird wants to turn on its own spontaneously.

The only problem is that I think there were older, pre-robotics aircraft that may have used the canard element, so my version is just a guess.

[ZULU]

I support the billboard theory. They were used to support billboards for that political Dinosaur - the American Democratic Party - during Mesozoic elections.

[BushMeister]

Blurry but spooky Pterosaur.

[Modernman]

Blurry but spooky Pterosaur

Where did you find this?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Maybe they were just a sign: "Eat at Bad Joe's."

[Paulus Invictus]

This looks a lot like the road runners that run along my garden wall all the time. They are really ugly and can run like crazy. They use only two feet to do it, however. They do fly when they feel they have to, but short distances.

[sharkhawk]

Problem with that theory is Democrats haven't evolved. Maybe devolved.

[Da_Shrimp]

Where did you find this?

Looks like a preview of a Nazgul's beastie from Lord of the Rings 'Return of the King', since the URL for the pic is

http://img-nex.theonering.net/movie/preview/images/rotk_trailer01_067.jpg

Looking forward to seeing it!

[RightWingNilla]

Good to see you are still alive :)

Who you pullin for now the sox or the fish?