Pterosaurs' wings 'key to their size' (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, BBC News

Ancient flying reptiles called pterosaurs were adapted to fly in a slow, controlled manner in gentle tropical breezes, researchers say.

Their conclusions are drawn from the first detailed aerodynamic study of the wings, which suggests they did not evolve to fly fast and powerfully in stormy winds.

The research, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, may also explain how the creatures were able to become the largest flying animals ever known.

By landing slowly, the pterosaurs could avoid injury and grow to much larger sizes than modern day birds. However, the trade-off for their large size was a vulnerability to strong winds.

Also known as pterodactyls, these creatures lived at the time of the dinosaurs. Some species are thought to have had wingspans of up to 10m.
***
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11815320

[dimbear]

1. Somewhere I've heard the air used to be thicker and

richer in oxygen. Maybe all those factors?