RE: The Lost Dinosaurs Of Egypt ... and insects

["Williams, Tim" <TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu>]

David Marjanovic wrote:

> Protodonata, which contains *Meganeuropsis permiana* (72 cm wingspan) 
> (interesting... I used to think they weren't dragonflies at all), is 
> confined to the Carboniferous and Permian

I know next to nothing about the fossil history of insects - but I believe
that "protodonates" did not survive the Permian-Triassic extinction.  Nor
did most 'orders' of paleopterous insects - true Odonata and Ephemeroptera
excepted.

Check out Grimaldi, D. (2001) J. Paleont. 75(6): 1152-1160.

> Not to mention that Pterosauria appears only in the Late Triassic with 
> presumed fish eaters, 

APPEARS, yes.  Like bats, the early history of the Pterosauria is a blank
page.  If pterosaurs did evolve from prolacertiforms (or prolacertiform
relatives) rather than basal archosaurs, then the first pterosaurs (or their
volant ancestors, depending upon the definition of 'Pterosauria') may have
appeared as far back as the Permian.

To be honest, I don't really believe that pterosaurs drove the big flying
insects to extinction.  Just thought I might stir things up a bit by raising
the suggestion.  ;-)



Tim


----------------------------------------------------------- 



Timothy J. Williams, Ph.D. 

USDA-ARS Researcher 
Agronomy Hall 
Iowa State University 
Ames IA 50014 

Phone: 515 294 9233 
Fax:   515 294 9359 



Tim