tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post8681351060717862169..comments2023-10-25T04:04:15.348-07:00Comments on When Pigs Fly Returns: Pterosaurs: What the hell ARE they?Zachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692080707969333711noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-90599346561632194202010-03-15T13:37:38.648-07:002010-03-15T13:37:38.648-07:00Hmmm...let's move this to an email thread. Try...Hmmm...let's move this to an email thread. Try sillysaur at gmail dot com. We'll start with this question: what features are shared between basal pterosaurs and basal synapsids?Zachary Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035947146927565746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-64247908404210534602010-03-15T13:31:11.753-07:002010-03-15T13:31:11.753-07:00I would begin by saying that stem mammals are rept...I would begin by saying that stem mammals are reptile-like mammals. So they still have a number of reptile-type characteristics from their reptile-like pre-amniote ancestors. <br />So the reptile-type characteristics that we see, especially in the basal pterosaurs, could have come from their stem mammal ancestors. Does that make sense so far?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-91404977739405178382010-03-15T13:18:24.241-07:002010-03-15T13:18:24.241-07:00Sure, but understand that I'm not pterosaur ex...Sure, but understand that I'm not pterosaur expert. I merely pull from my available sources and the advice of my colleagues.Zachary Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035947146927565746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-7659071676025563422010-03-15T13:10:07.766-07:002010-03-15T13:10:07.766-07:00I have been investigating this for a long time. Do...I have been investigating this for a long time. Do not be so quick to rule out a stem mammal ancestry. It resolves a lot of questions.<br />I am interested in discussing this in a friendly, scientific way if you are interested.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-9500203852076421562010-03-15T12:23:41.981-07:002010-03-15T12:23:41.981-07:00Stem-mammals are not reptiles, though. They're...Stem-mammals are not reptiles, though. They're synapsids. Mammals didn't evolve from reptiles.<br /><br />Recall that somebody...the name escapes me now...back in the early days of pterosaur paleontology, suggested that pterosaurs represent marsupial bats. Hogwash, of course.<br /><br />Pterosaurs most certainly diapsid reptiles, though: their skull anatomy alone confirms that. The question now is where they sit in relation to other reptiles. The most recent analyses have suggested a basal position among ornithodirans.Zachary Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035947146927565746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-60308065108399391582010-03-15T12:13:41.325-07:002010-03-15T12:13:41.325-07:00Great article.
Perhaps the ancestry of these amaz...Great article. <br />Perhaps the ancestry of these amazing flying creatures is from the stem mammals. <br />The stem mammals are also called mammal-like reptiles as I expect you know. <br />Thoughts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-67733794219678080472009-02-08T06:44:00.000-08:002009-02-08T06:44:00.000-08:00Zach,You omitted work by Peters 2000 that demonstr...Zach,<BR/><BR/>You omitted work by Peters 2000 that demonstrated Cosesaurus, Sharovipteryx and Longisquama were successively closer taxa to the Pterosauria. The first two have pterosaur feet (long fifth toe), a pterosaur pelvis and an attenuated tail. The last has a longer ulna than humerus, strap-like scapula and coracoid, a sternal complex and multi-cusped teeth. Cosesaurus and Longisquama have an antorbital fenestra. Yhe wings came last.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-21518082922050582162007-09-29T00:12:00.000-07:002007-09-29T00:12:00.000-07:00A well put together and most informative post. We ...A well put together and most informative post. We also find a great deal of confusion surrounding the origin of Pterosauria and I like the analogy of comparing the lack of evidence of Pterosaurs with bats and baleen whales.Mike Walleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05105597738957353783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-11735357664691347092007-09-06T21:13:00.000-07:002007-09-06T21:13:00.000-07:00A bit late, but an excellent post, Zach.A bit late, but an excellent post, Zach.Will Bairdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07562404098136557872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902250.post-27409586802143830602007-09-05T10:35:00.000-07:002007-09-05T10:35:00.000-07:00Excellent work, Zach! A very informative post, ind...Excellent work, Zach! A very informative post, indeed.Laelapshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00920782525196396058noreply@blogger.com