The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Limb disparity and wing shape in pterosaurs

Limb disparity and wing shape in pterosaurs
Limb disparity and wing shape in pterosaurs
The limb proportions of the extinct flying pterosaurs were clearly distinct from their living counterparts, birds and bats. Within pterosaurs, however, we show that further differences in limb proportions exist between the two main groups: the clade of short-tailed Pterodactyloidea and the paraphyletic clades of long-tailed rhamphorhynchoids. The hindlimb to forelimb ratios of rhamphorhynchoid pterosaurs are similar to that seen in bats, whereas those of pterodactyloids are much higher. Such a clear difference in limb ratios indicates that the extent of the wing membrane in rhamphorhynchoids and pterodactyloids may also have differed; this is borne out by simple ternary analyses. Further, analyses also indicate that the limbs of Sordes pilosus, a well-preserved small taxon used as key evidence for inferring the extent and shape of the wing membrane in all pterosaurs, are not typical even of its closest relatives, other rhamphorhynchoids. Thus, a bat-like extensive hindlimb flight membrane, integrated with the feet and tail may be applicable only to a small subset of pterosaur diversity. The range of flight morphologies seen in these extinct reptiles may prove much broader than previously thought.

1010-061X
1339-1342
Dyke, Gareth J.
600ca61e-b40b-4c86-b8ae-13be4e331e94
Nudds, R.L.
f9e7472c-b4b8-4d09-bff5-68720e554ac8
Rayner, J.M.V.
89a4f015-d726-4073-babb-39027494dfe3
Dyke, Gareth J.
600ca61e-b40b-4c86-b8ae-13be4e331e94
Nudds, R.L.
f9e7472c-b4b8-4d09-bff5-68720e554ac8
Rayner, J.M.V.
89a4f015-d726-4073-babb-39027494dfe3

Dyke, Gareth J., Nudds, R.L. and Rayner, J.M.V. (2006) Limb disparity and wing shape in pterosaurs. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 19 (4), 1339-1342. (doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01096.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The limb proportions of the extinct flying pterosaurs were clearly distinct from their living counterparts, birds and bats. Within pterosaurs, however, we show that further differences in limb proportions exist between the two main groups: the clade of short-tailed Pterodactyloidea and the paraphyletic clades of long-tailed rhamphorhynchoids. The hindlimb to forelimb ratios of rhamphorhynchoid pterosaurs are similar to that seen in bats, whereas those of pterodactyloids are much higher. Such a clear difference in limb ratios indicates that the extent of the wing membrane in rhamphorhynchoids and pterodactyloids may also have differed; this is borne out by simple ternary analyses. Further, analyses also indicate that the limbs of Sordes pilosus, a well-preserved small taxon used as key evidence for inferring the extent and shape of the wing membrane in all pterosaurs, are not typical even of its closest relatives, other rhamphorhynchoids. Thus, a bat-like extensive hindlimb flight membrane, integrated with the feet and tail may be applicable only to a small subset of pterosaur diversity. The range of flight morphologies seen in these extinct reptiles may prove much broader than previously thought.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 2006
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 205235
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/205235
ISSN: 1010-061X
PURE UUID: 81204dad-0175-4082-9e20-d32c55a73dd6

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 07 Dec 2011 17:53
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:33

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Gareth J. Dyke
Author: R.L. Nudds
Author: J.M.V. Rayner

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×