Re: Pterosaur in water

["jrc" <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

A couple of comments inserted.
JimC

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Peters" <davidrpeters@charter.net>
Subject: re: Pterosaur in water


> Wings folded and hollow they would float like pontoons with the  pterosaur 
> between them also unable to sink IMHO.

Agreed.

> Legs also spread  laterally.

Perhaps. Part of the time.

> Lifting the wings into the air would sink the pterosaur  slightly IMHO, 
> but passing breezes would lift it.

For most pterosaurs, would take a lot more than a breeze to passively lift 
it to any great extent..

> IF no passing  breezes, why did the pterosaur settle on the surface to 
> begin with?

I don't follow that line of thought at all.  What do breezes have to do with 
the issue?

> Elasmosaur bait.

Indeed so.

> The hyperelongated metacarpals of nyctosaurs, pteranodons, etc. might 
> have been part of the balancing act, keeping the center of balance at  all 
> times

And even azhdarchids, though I don't think of them as effective swimmers.