Pterosaur feathers?

[John Conway <john_conway@mac.com>]

>  NEW RHAMPHORHYNCHOID WITH A HEADCREST AND COMPLEX INTEGUMENTARY 
> STRUCTURES
> Stephen A. Czerkas and Qiang Ji
>
> Abstract
>
> A new rhamphorhynchoid is described with a headcrest that is 
> unprecedented among the long-tailed pterosaurs. The preservation of 
> the headcrest presents significant implications regarding the physical 
> appearance and aerodynamics of all pterosaurs. Also, "hair-like" 
> integumentary structures of this pterosaur are shown to be complex 
> multi-strand structures which presents evidence on the origin of 
> feathers and the possibility of a remarkably early ancestral 
> relationship between pterosaurs and birds.

I'm waiting for a feathered sauropod! :-)

While on the subject of pterosaur fur, what was it like? Could it have 
formed a sort of aeroshell is in birds?

Or were they soft and fluffy?


John Conway, Palaeoartist

"All art is quite useless." - Oscar Wilde

Systematic ramblings: http://homepage.mac.com/john_conway/phylogenetic/
Palaeoart: http://homepage.mac.com/john_conway/