Azhdarchid pterosaurs are also the largest ever flying vertebrates.
Flying lizards with giraffe-like necks and wing spans up to nearly 40 feet once ruled the skies while dinosaurs roamed below. These impressive albeit bizarre beasts, the azhdarchid pterosaurs, lived from the Late Triassic period until near the end of the Cretaceous period, and are the largest known vertebrates to ever take flight.
“It is unlike anything seen previously in a vertebra of any animal,” paleobiologist and co-author David Martill said in a. “This structure… resolved many concerns about the biomechanics of how these creatures were able to support massive heads—longer than 1.5 meters—on necks longer than the modern-day giraffe, all whilst retaining the ability of powered flight.”
With the help of biomechanical engineers, they then assessed just how helpful the spoke-like structures were for easing the flying reptiles’ neck strain. Their analyses found that just 50 of these struts increased their weight-bearing capacity by 90 percent, which explains how these ancient lizards could be such strong fliers and fierce predators without breaking their own necks.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Once again, large SF tech company conducts second layoff round2023 continues to be a slow, brutal march for tech companies.
Weiterlesen »
President Biden announces nominee for Ambassador-At-Large for Arctic AffairsPresident Biden announced Mike Sfraga as nominee for the first Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs.
Weiterlesen »
Meteorite slams into South Texas with 'large explosion'Residents of Mission, Texas, heard a 'large explosion' or 'boom' around 5:30pm on Wednesday. The sound? A 2 feet in diameter, 1,000 lb meteorite.
Weiterlesen »
Large Migrant Group Apprehended After Boat Landing in Florida KeysCBP Air and Marine Operations agents responded to a reported migrant landing in Tavernier Key, Florida, and encountered a large group of migrants who arrived by sea.
Weiterlesen »
Meet the 11-year-old student-athlete named Houston going viral for large mural in downtownIf you've been in downtown Houston lately, you may have noticed a large mural of a little boy on a bike at the corner of Prairie and Main. ABC13 learns the story behind the little legend.
Weiterlesen »
Kazakhstan challenges large asset transfer by ex-president's foundationKazakh prosecutors have filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify the transfer of a local bank's ownership from ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev's non-profit foundation to a foreign company, they said on Thursday.
Weiterlesen »