Pterosaurs were giant winged reptiles that once dominated Earth’s skies.
Pterosaurs were giant winged reptiles that once dominated Earth’s skies. A pterosaur fossil found in Texas in 1971 was estimated to have had a wingspan of at least 11 meters. Paleontologists examining a footprint found in Mexico last year concluded that it belonged to a pterosaur with a wingspan of at least 18 meters. This wingspan is greater than that of a modern jet fighter! According to David Martill of the University of Portsmouth, pterosaurs were the largest flying creatures to ever live. These creatures, with their extremely lightweight skeletons, had thin-walled, hollow bones filled with a network of air sacs. Pterosaurs had shed the scales of their reptile ancestors and had extremely thin wing membranes. Standing at three meters tall, these creatures had heads the size of three sofas. While their wings were ideal for gliding, a specialized shoulder joint gave them great maneuverability. Martill believes the flying giant had to jump to take off. This is because their pelvic bones resembled a frog’s.
