Re: Pterosaur wing membranes

[jrc <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

If Darren is referring to the photos that I've seen, they were ambiguous at 
best about an ankle attachment. I didn't draw the same conclusion.  Perhaps 
better photos are available.   I do agree wholeheartedly with Darren's 
caution re inferences to be drawn about all taxa, based on one specimen.
I'd be very surprised if all pterosaurs had ankle attachments.
I'd be almost equally surprised if none of them do.

But, they sure are counterproductive for animals that are making use of 
dynamic soaring rather than convective soaring.

JimC

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>
To: "DML" <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 7:38 AM
Subject: Fw: Pterosaur wing membranes


> You can see in all of the relevant photos that the brachiopatagium 
> attaches to the ankle. I agree that what we see in one specimen, or even 
> in one clade, does not necessarily go for all taxa across a diverse group, 
> but, well, there it is.