Pterosaurs, ancient flying reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs, were able to take flight long before birds and bats. While feathers and hollow bones played a role in their ability to fly, recent research has shed light on the importance of a lattice-like structure in their tail vanes. This structure prevented their broad-ended tails from fluttering and helped guide them through the skies. This discovery may provide insight into how pterosaurs were able to dominate the air over 200 million years ago.
The fossil record of pterosaurs is relatively rare due to the degradation of their thin and hollow bones over time. However, a recent study by University of Edinburgh palaeontologist Natalia Jagielska and her colleagues has identified four exceptional specimens that preserved details of the thin, soft tissue tail vane. By imaging these fossils with laser-stimulated fluorescence, the researchers were able to uncover hidden anatomical details that revealed a rod-like lattice structure within the tail vane. This lattice offered stabilization and control during flight, reducing drag and ensuring a smoother flight for the pterosaurs.
Evolving Tail Vanes
The new soft tissue information from the study provides clues about the evolutionary origins of the tail vane itself. The lattice structure found in early pterosaurs suggests that the tail vane developed from a single continuous structure, rather than a combination of scales or feather-like integuments. Additionally, the researchers deduced that pterosaur tail vanes likely contained “fleshy folds” at the end, similar to the flukes of cetaceans. This adaptation may have helped pterosaurs glide through the air more efficiently, similar to how whales and dolphins move through water.
Another crucial aspect of pterosaurs’ flight capabilities was the propatagium, a tendon that stretches along the leading edge of the wing. This tendon likely played a role in controlling flight take-off and landing by altering the airflow over the wings. While birds and bats also have a propatagium on each wing, the pterosaur’s oar-like tail vane was a distinctive feature that set them apart from other flying vertebrates. This unique combination of anatomical features may have contributed to the success of pterosaurs in dominating the skies during the Mesozoic era.
The recent research on pterosaurs’ tail vanes sheds light on the evolutionary advantages that allowed these flying reptiles to achieve powered flight long before other vertebrates. By maintaining stiffness in the tail vane through a lattice-like structure, pterosaurs were able to stabilize their flight and reduce drag, ultimately leading to their success in the ancient skies. Further studies on the evolution of pterosaur anatomy may reveal even more insights into how these fascinating creatures adapted to life in the air.
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