Re: pterosaurian pterrors

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

John R. Hutchinson wrote:
 
> Remember that
> animals aren't just made of bones; they have muscles, nerves, cartilage,
> tendons, their own body mass, etc. that all interact to produce the
> phenomenon of locomotion.  Even a study of functional osteology leaves lots
> unanswered; the more unknowns, the shakier our conclusions are.

Not to mention probably the most important aspect: behaviour. No matter
how well adapted a species is PHYSICALLY for a certain task, if it lacks
the instinct or the "nerve" to do so then it wont.

> 
> Frankly, the locomotion of pterosaurs scares the crap out of me; I find
> extinct theropods challenging enough even with some vaguely useful
> functional analogs.

Unwin's article in Lethaia (December 1996) concerning pterodactyloid
trackways seems fairly convincing, at least for the short-tails.

-- 
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        Dann Pigdon
        Melbourne, Australia
        http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/4459/

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