The Pterosauria
The Pterosauria

Author: David Martill

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2016-02-01

Total Pages: 500

ISBN-13: 9780521518956

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Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight. This core reference work summarises state-of-the-art research on pterosaur taxonomy, phylogeny and evolutionary history, as well as recent advances in our understanding of pterosaur diversity and the distribution of these creatures. Compiled by a team of more than 20 experts from 8 different countries, this work provides the most extensive account yet written of pterosaur systematics. Highlights include detailed reviews of the geology and palaeontology of principal pterosaur localities; comprehensive accounts of pterosaur biogeography and preservation; detailed systematic reviews of the more than 130 species of pterosaur described so far; and the first detailed account of pterosaur evolution to include important new finds such as Darwinopterus. Illustrated with unique line drawings and photographs, The Pterosauria is a one-stop resource for academics, students of palaeontology, geology and biology, and amateur enthusiasts interested in these flying reptiles.

Taxonomy and Systematics of the Late Cretaceous Pterosaur Pteranodon (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) (Classic Reprint)
Taxonomy and Systematics of the Late Cretaceous Pterosaur Pteranodon (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) (Classic Reprint)

Author: S. Christopher Bennett

Publisher: Forgotten Books

Published: 2017-10-26

Total Pages: 80

ISBN-13: 9780266751403

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Excerpt from Taxonomy and Systematics of the Late Cretaceous Pterosaur Pteranodon (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) A number of specimens have been referred to Pteranodon, despite the fact that they either cannot pertain to the genus because of significant morphological differences, or should not be referred to Pteranodon be cause they are indeterminate. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs
Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs

Author: Eric Buffetaut

Publisher: Geological Society of London

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 358

ISBN-13: 9781862391437

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Pterosaurs were a peculiar group of Mesozoic vertebrates, which acquired the ability to fly in an original way, using a membrane attached to a single finger of the hand. Ever since the first description of a pterosaur skeleton in 1784, these remarkable animals have elicited much discussion and controversy among palaeontologists, and many basic questions about their origin, evolution and biology remain disputed. In the last few years, interest in pterosaurs has been revived by numerous discoveries of new and sometimes remarkably preserved specimens, which have enlarged and changed our picture of this group. The volume begins with descriptions of several new pterosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous of Europe, North and South America, and Africa. Following this, alternative hypotheses of pterosaur phytogeny and evolution are put forward. Several papers discuss the functional anatomy of pterosaurs and its implications for aerial locomotion. The study of pterosaur footprints provides important new evidence concerning their terrestrial locomotion, and this approach is used in several contributions. A developing aspect of pterosaur research is bone histology, as shown by the final papers in this collection.

New Perspectives on Pterosaur Palaeobiology
New Perspectives on Pterosaur Palaeobiology

Author: D.W.E. Hone

Publisher: Geological Society of London

Published: 2018-01-18

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 1786203170

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Pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight, are undergoing a long-running scientific renaissance that has seen sustained, and even elevated interest, from several generations of palaeontologists. These incredible reptiles are known from every continent, flew the Mesozoic skies for at least 160 million years, diversified into more than a dozen major clades and well over 100 species, and included the largest flying animals of all time. This volume brings together leading pterosaur researchers from around the globe to discuss new and cutting-edge research into various aspects of pterosaur palaeobiology and presents diverse papers to deliver new insights on flying reptile palaeoecology, flight, ontogeny, skeletal and soft-tissue anatomy, temporal and spatial distribution and evolution, as well as revisions of their taxonomy and interrelationships.

Taxonomic review of the Ornithocheirus complex (Pterosauria) from the Cretaceous of England
Taxonomic review of the Ornithocheirus complex (Pterosauria) from the Cretaceous of England

Author: Taissa Rodrigues

Publisher: PenSoft Publishers LTD

Published: 2013-06-12

Total Pages: 118

ISBN-13: 9546426873

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Toothed pterosaurs are known from England since the 19th Century, through the works of James Scott Bowerbank (1797?1877) and Richard Owen (1804?1892). Harry Govier Seeley (1839-1909) soon realized that the English pterosaurs were distinct and referred several species in the genus Ornithocheirus. The fragmentary nature of the material, competing taxonomic proposals, synonymisations, and misunderstandings, lead to a very controversial taxonomic scenario. This monograph reviews thirty species that, at some point, were referred to Ornithocheirus. From these, fourteen are considered valid and belonging to five genera, three of them new. These genera are exclusive to the Cretaceous of England. Sixteen species are deemed undiagnosable. Descriptions and illustrations of all these species are provided. For the first time, a large number of species of the Ornithocheirus complex was included in a phylogenetic analysis and it is shown that most of them comprise a newly diagnosed clade, Anhangueria, with Brazilian and Chinese taxa.

Anatomy, Phylogeny and Palaeobiology of Early Archosaurs and Their Kin
Anatomy, Phylogeny and Palaeobiology of Early Archosaurs and Their Kin

Author: Sterling J. Nesbitt

Publisher: Geological Society of London

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 605

ISBN-13: 1862393613

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Archosaurs, an important reptile group that includes today's crocodiles and birds, arose during the Triassic in the aftermath of the greatest mass extinction of all time. In the last 20 years, our understanding of the early evolution of the group has improved substantially with the discovery of new fossils and species of early archosaurs and their closest relatives, a better understanding of the relationships of these animals, and new insights into their palaeobiology. In order to synthesize these new data, researchers of early archosaurs from around the world met at the first symposium of early archosaur evolution at the IV Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontología de Vertebrados (September 2011) in San Juan, Argentina. This symposium facilitated collaboration and strove to paint a better understanding of these extraordinary animals. The resultant body of work is a state-of-the-art examination of early archosaur groups and their close relatives including historical, anatomical, biogeographical, evolutionary and palaeobiological data. This contribution furthers our knowledge of the anatomy, relationships, and palaeobiology of species-level taxa as well as more global patterns of archosaur evolution during the Triassic -- P. 4 of cover.