Pterosaurs Flashcards by Cindy Tran

Ptero-sauria

Winged Lizard

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Features

Wings
Digit IV (ring finger, longest finger for pterosaurs)
Tails
Long or short tail, without much muscle
Shorter tail -> more derived -> towards tip of tree
Hairs
To maintain body temperature
Short torso
Fused backbones of torso in derived forms

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Time period

triassic (NA) < jurassic (NA + SA) < cretaceous (everywhere)

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Major groups of Pterosaurs

Basal - long tail
intermediate - still long tail
basal pterodactyls - short tail
Derived - short tail

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major groups of pterosaurs (continued)

Pterodactyloidea - short tail

Macronychoptera - long tail

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When was the diversity of pterosaurs the highest?

Most diversity in createous from most derived

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Eudimorphodon

basal - Norian - NA dinosaur
Late triassic italy
Heavy head, big teeth
2 big teeth, teeth found in insectivores
Lived close to coastline - bahama like  - shallow water
Walked up tree, took off from there

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Rhamphorynchus

Intermediate

Dusk time flyer

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Sordes

Intermediate

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Jeholopterus

had hairs

Intermediate

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Basal pterodactyls

Pterodactylus
Side branch - ctenochasma
side branch - Pterodaustro

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ctenochasma

Basal pterodactyl
Comb jaw
elongated jaw

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Pterodaustro

Basal pterodactyl
Elongated lower jaw
Removed top part
Basket jaw
Shorter tails

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what species was found in texas and what bones did they find

Quetzalcoatlus
Pteranodon
15 m
Only humerus found

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Derived pterodactyls

Pteranodon
Anhanguera
Big crest (Azhdarchoidea)

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Pteranodon

Derived pterodactyl
Wingspan of 7 m
No teeth
“Wings without teeth”

Anhanguera

Derived pterodactyl
Brazil
5m

Big crest (Azhdarchoidea)

Derived pterodactyls
1m
Tupuxuara
Tapejara

How different are pterosaur, bat, and bird wings?

Pterosaurs have biggest hand
Birds have smallest hand
Pterosaurs collagen fingers used to help with wing structure which helps makes wings stronger

What kind of fliers were pterosaurs?

Closer to birds than bats (skeleton wise)
Pterosaurs have efficient, high AR wings
Pterosaurs - marine slope soarers
Not best but good enough to fly slow, lower wing loading
Low wing loading
Efficient gliders not the best flappers

AR (Aspect Ratio)

span/wing area or span / average chord
High AR wings more breakable than low
elongated wings

Wing loading

body mass/wing area
Low wing loading - lighter- stays in air longer - slow flight
High wing loading - heavier - stay in air shorter - faster flight

could pterosaurs fly even if they were big

diagrams /model said that over 20 kg couldn’t fly

How did pterosaurs breathe?

Bird sac system

bird sac system

Filled with balloons More than 3 parts/balloons Stores air, lightens body Lung air flow is unidirectional therefore can process oxygen faster than humans since air can go in 1 direction

did basal or derived forms of pterosaurs have the air sac system?

Derived pterosaurs had air sacs

What were the largest and smallest pterosaurs?

``` Smallest - nemicolopterus wingspan 25 cm Pterosaurs never got so small like birds and bats Biggest - quetzalcoatlus Wingspan of 15 m ```

What did pterosaurs eat?

Fish and squid Fish if they lived near coast Others used beak to catch prey Others ate shrimp

What ate pterosaurs?

Velociraptor ate pterosaurs (had bones of a pterosaurs w a 2m span in stomach) dinosaurs, sea reptiles, crocodiles, and large fish (best evidence for dinosaurs)

What did Rhamphorynchus eat

Squid, fish eater

How did sordes catch their prey

(intermediate) | Captured w fish in foot

Haired pterosaurs?

insectivores (ate insects), | short beak things

Quetzalcoatlus

``` Derived pterodactyl Not close to coast 50 km from coast Small vertebrae Ate from land ```