Well-preserved fossils reveal that even the most colossal of pterosaurs were capable of flight, and various species had diverse flight styles such as soaring.
Well-preserved fossils of ancient large reptiles called pterosaurs have revealed that some species flew by flapping their wings, while others soared like vultures, according to a new study. Pterosaurs dominated the skies during the time of the dinosaurs and met the same deadly fate 66 million years ago after an asteroid strike triggered a mass extinction event.
“They represent the largest animals with the capacity to fly,” Rosenbach said of the extinct reptiles. Discovering that pterosaurs adapted different flight styles is exciting because it provides insight into the behaviors and lifestyles of these ancient reptiles, the researchers said. “I think they would look noticeably different if we could watch them fly side by side,” Rosenbach said.
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