Re: Quick question for pterosaur aficionados:

[David Peters <davidpeters@att.net>]

I was more interested in complete folding, like "on the tarmac."
But thanks for that data.

Some of both? Is this phylogenetic? Or happenstance?

David Peters
davidpeters@att.net


> Some of both.  Any joints that
> can be flexed will help fold the wing.  Most of this
> will occur at MCIV-PhIV (outboard), but the elbow can flex,
> as can the wrist.  For actual folding, the wing finger
> is most important, but it should be noted that span
> reduction during flight was likely accomplished more at the
> elbow and wrist.  The initial span reduction produces
> extra cambering, and so (counter-intuitively) increases the
> lift on the span-reduced wing.  Additional span
> reduction reduces lift as area shrinks, and then reduces it
> a great deal if the wing begins to flutter (this last issue
> prevented pterosaurs from utilizing the same degree of span
> reduction in flight as birds use).
> 
> --Mike
> 
> 
> Michael Habib
> Assistant Professor of Biology
> Chatham University
> Woodland Road, Pittsburgh PA  15232
> Buhl Hall, Room 226A
> mhabib@chatham.edu
> (443) 280-0181
> 
> 
> 
> On Mar 23, 2010, at 9:33 PM, David Peters wrote:
> 
> > Wing folding:
> > 
> > Inboard or outboard of the elbow?
> > 
> > You can probably guess what I would say, but I'll
> weigh in after others have spoken.
> > 
> > David Peters
> > St. Louis
> > 
> > 
> 
>