Re: Pterosaurs

["Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>]

  Just a few minor points:

Bryan McDevitt wrote:

<Germanodactylus probably let go of the branch it was clinging to and
swooped down, before flapping its wings to stay in the air. Those with
very large wings, such as Gnathosaurus, just spread their wings and let
the wind and air currents carry them upwards.>

  *Germanodactylus* (which species? One of them is not
*Germanodactylus*) and other Solenhofen pterosaurs were probably a lot
different and perhaps for like varieties of gulls; Solenhofen beds
resemble lagoons, and large trees for launching from have been
hypothesized no end, without any evidence so far. Cliffs are not out of
the question, but again, there really isn't much evidence for them,
either. Certainly qualitativ analysis of how the smaller pterosaurs
like these bunch named will need to be performed on how they may have
flown.

<The fish-eating Gallodactylus had forward-pointing teeth to catch and
keep hold of slithery fish.>

  *Gallodactylus* has been found to be occupied. A previous name,
*Cyncnorhamphus,* has been resurrected for *"G." suevicus,* and was the
original name for the specimen everyone calls *Gallodactylus.* It's a
better name, if less elegant, in my mind.

=====
Jaime "James" A. Headden

  Dinosaurs are horrible, terrible creatures! Even the
  fluffy ones, the snuggle-up-at-night-with ones. You think
  they're fun and sweet, but watch out for that stray tail
  spike! Down, gaston, down, boy! No, not on top of Momma!

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