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Constraints on the wing morphology of pterosaurs

Constraints on the wing morphology of pterosaurs
Constraints on the wing morphology of pterosaurs
Animals that fly must be able to do so over a huge range of aerodynamic conditions, determined by weather, wind speed and the nature of their environment. No single parameter can be used to determine—let alone measure—optimum flight performance as it relates to wing shape. Reconstructing the wings of the extinct pterosaurs has therefore proved especially problematic: these Mesozoic flying reptiles had a soft-tissue membranous flight surface that is rarely preserved in the fossil record. Here, we review basic mechanical and aerodynamic constraints that influenced the wing shape of pterosaurs, and, building on this, present a series of theoretical modelling results. These results allow us to predict the most likely wing shapes that could have been employed by these ancient reptiles, and further show that a combination of anterior sweep and a reflexed proximal wing section provides an aerodynamically balanced and efficient theoretical pterosaur wing shape, with clear benefits for their flight stability.
Pterosauria, flight, wing shape, morphology, biomechanics, aerodynamics
1471-2954
1218-1224
Palmer, Colin
d4b02122-cc0e-4b28-bc6c-03d107acf362
Dyke, Gareth
600ca61e-b40b-4c86-b8ae-13be4e331e94
Palmer, Colin
d4b02122-cc0e-4b28-bc6c-03d107acf362
Dyke, Gareth
600ca61e-b40b-4c86-b8ae-13be4e331e94

Palmer, Colin and Dyke, Gareth (2012) Constraints on the wing morphology of pterosaurs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279 (1731), 1218-1224. (doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1529).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Animals that fly must be able to do so over a huge range of aerodynamic conditions, determined by weather, wind speed and the nature of their environment. No single parameter can be used to determine—let alone measure—optimum flight performance as it relates to wing shape. Reconstructing the wings of the extinct pterosaurs has therefore proved especially problematic: these Mesozoic flying reptiles had a soft-tissue membranous flight surface that is rarely preserved in the fossil record. Here, we review basic mechanical and aerodynamic constraints that influenced the wing shape of pterosaurs, and, building on this, present a series of theoretical modelling results. These results allow us to predict the most likely wing shapes that could have been employed by these ancient reptiles, and further show that a combination of anterior sweep and a reflexed proximal wing section provides an aerodynamically balanced and efficient theoretical pterosaur wing shape, with clear benefits for their flight stability.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 28 September 2011
Published date: 22 March 2012
Keywords: Pterosauria, flight, wing shape, morphology, biomechanics, aerodynamics
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 200915
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/200915
ISSN: 1471-2954
PURE UUID: 341d0f0e-38f2-498a-bac1-31d2fad3200d

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 24 Oct 2011 16:24
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:20

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Contributors

Author: Colin Palmer
Author: Gareth Dyke

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