Re: Combined answer Archaeopteryx running...

["James R. Cunningham" <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

Williams, Tim wrote:

> > > Did the immediate ancestors of the Pterosauria retain a prehensile
> > >manus, or was it absorbed into the flight surface from the get-go?
> >
> >It was never absorbed into the flight surface.
>
> The 4th manual digit was integrated into the pterosaur flight surface.  It's
> indispensable in this respect.

The 3 free fingers were never absorbed into the flight surface.  They
constituted the hand, which remained free.  I will of course accept Chris's
statement on Nyctosaurus' missing hand.  Hadn't heard that before. Thanks.