Pterosaur paleobiology

Pterosaur paleobiology studies the anatomy, behavior, ecology, and life history of pterosaurs, the extinct flying reptiles of the Mesozoic Era.

Pterosaur: An extinct flying reptile group that lived from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous. This broader group is the subject whose biology the field reconstructs.
Pterosaur flight: Powered aerial locomotion by pterosaurs using flapping membranous wings. Biomechanical models test how their wings generated lift and propulsion.
Pterosaur growth: The development of pterosaurs from juveniles to adults, studied through bone histology and fossil growth series. Growth patterns reveal how quickly pterosaurs matured and changed form.
Jeholopterus: A small anurognathid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of China, known from unusually detailed soft-tissue fossils. Its preserved coverings and wing membranes inform debates about pterosaur anatomy.
Pterosaur wing: A membranous flight surface supported chiefly by an elongated fourth finger and attached to the body and hindlimbs. Wing structure underlies estimates of flight performance and locomotion.
Pterosaur launch: The process by which a pterosaur took off from the ground or another surface. Launch mechanics constrain estimates of limb strength and terrestrial mobility.
Pterosaur ontogeny: The sequence of anatomical changes in a pterosaur during its development. Juvenile and adult fossils help distinguish age-related traits from separate species.
Sordes: A small Late Jurassic pterosaur from Kazakhstan, notable for fossils preserving filamentous body coverings. Its soft-tissue preservation shaped discussion of insulation and pterosaur coverings.
Pterosaur skeleton: The fossilized skeletal anatomy of pterosaurs, including distinctive hollow bones and specialized limb proportions. Skeletal form supplies evidence for posture, movement, and body size.
Pterosaur quadrupedalism: The hypothesis that pterosaurs moved on the ground using both forelimbs and hindlimbs. Trackways and limb anatomy support a four-limbed terrestrial gait.

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