Pterodactylus web article for National Geographic Deutschland

[bh480@scn.org]

From: Ben Creisler bh480@scn.org
Pterodactylus web article for National Geographic
Deutschland

I don't recall this item being mentioned when National
Geographic published an article about pterosaurs in the
May issue. The website for the German version of National
Geographic had a special additional feature about a newly
discovered specimen of Pterodactylus that preserved webbed
feet, very large sickle-shaped claws, a conspicuous "mane"
of hairlike structures along its neck and back, and a
bizarre comblike structure on its skull. The jaws also had
a beak-like horny covering at the tips. Examination with
UV light revealed many of these hitherto unrecognized soft-
tissue features that probably existed in other pterosaurs.
The discovery supports the 4-footed stance for
pterodactyls on the ground.  I can do a translation of the
text and captions if people are interested, or maybe
somebody else would like to do the honors.

http://www.nationalgeographic.de/php/magazin/topstories/200
1/05/topstory1a.htm

For those who read German, I would also recommend the news
feature on the Dinosaurier.org website at:
http://www.saurier-web.de/nachrichten/news1.htm

Note that the current set of news stories runs through
news34.htm.  The stories often include excellent photos
and
illustrations.