Paleontologists have unveiled a surprising twist in the evolution of ancient pterosaurs – their ability to walk efficiently on the ground played a crucial role in their growth into some of the largest flying animals ever. This discovery sheds new light on the diverse lifestyles and adaptations of these remarkable creatures, showcasing their remarkable evolution from tree-climbing ancestors to terrestrial titans.
From Small Scale to Large Scale
In the case of pterosaurs, a team of paleontologists from the University of Leicester has now discovered how their evolutionary adaptations let them grow to such colossal sizes. The key discovery? Their flight ability allowed them to be so big, but for how much of that did they need to walk effectively on the ground.
Based on their analysis, the researchers think early pterosaurs were highly specialized for climbing having very peculiar adaptations of their hands and feet — resembling those of climbers such as modern climbing lizards and birds like woodpeckers. The resulting small body sizes of these early tree-dwelling pterosaurs are consistent with such an origin in arboreal habitats. But it is in the Middle Jurassic that a significant evolution takes place, and hands and feet begin to resemble those of terrestrial animals.
Transitioning from Aquatic Kings to Inland Dominators
Pterosaurs developed a range of feeding strategies as the adaptations conferred by ground-based movement offered new ecological opportunities. Some pterosaurs grew very large, freed from the size constraints of living on land, and achieved wingspans up to 10 meters.
In basal pterosaurs the hind limbs are united by a flight membrane that must have severely impaired active walking and running. Dr. David Unwin from the University of Leicester said, “In later and more evolutionarily advanced pterosaurs, this fell away along the midline – essentially allowing each leg to do its own thing.” That was a critical innovation, one that along with further changes to their hands and feet made pterosaurs much more nimble on the ground.
Diversity of Pterosaur Lifestyles
The results of the researchers highlight that we must consider all pterosaur locomotion (and not only those beliefs about their flight capabilities) if we are to truly understand their evolution. Studying the ways they lived in the trees or on the ground gives us some idea of how they fit into ancient ecosystems.
When pterosaurs got to the ground, they didn’t interfere with competition from dinosaurs and other reptiles in their established places; instead, they reached ecological niches that necessitate flying and walking talents. One byproduct was some very unusual food acquisition methods, the development of hundreds of tiny needle-like teeth used for filter-feeding being an example that closely resembles the method employed by modern flamingos—flamingos born at least 120 million years later. These incredible adaptations highlight the sheer variety and adaptability of these ancient airborne dinosaurs.
