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Not as big as we thought...
The data for forelimb element lengths of
MPSCR R 1395 provided by Bantim et al. Table 1, sum to 2.189 m. Adding an estimated length of 0.388 m for the ulna (based on linear regression of ulna and humerus for 65 examples of ornithocheiroids,
sensu Unwin 2003) sums to a complete forelimb length of 2.577 m. Doubling this and adding another 10% (representing the body at the shoulders) results in an estimated wingspan of 5.412 m. This is considerably shorter than the 7.2–8.03 m estimated by Bantim
et al. However, it does compare well with Anhanguera spielbergi (RGM 401 880), which is slightly larger, with an estimated wingspan of 5.9 m (Veldmeijer 2003).
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Dr David M Unwin
Associate Professor (Museum Studies)
School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester
t: +44 116 252 3947 e: dmu1@le.ac.uk w:
Dave
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