First record of the pterosaur footprint
            <i>Pteraichnus</i>
            from the Saltwick Formation (Aalenian) of the Cleveland Basin, Yorkshire, UK

Whyte, M. A.; Romano, M.

doi:10.1144/pygs2014-338

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Although it seems that the basic tenets of pterodactyloid terrestrial locomotion are understood, the same cannot be said for non-pterodactyloids. Research into the terrestrial capacity of early pterosaurs is entirely based on interpretations of their functional anatomy because their trackways remain elusive ( Unwin, 2005 ; Lockley, Harris & Mitchell, 2008 ; Whyte & Romano, 2014 ). Such considerations are relatively few in number and have reached varying conclusions, either arguing for non-pterodactyloids as terrestrially competent, digitigrade bird-like bipeds which could not easily reach the substrate with their forelimbs ( Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the several interpretations of non-pterodactyloid terrestrial locomotion outlined above, the proposal that they were relatively ineffective terrestrial quadrupeds has gained the largest acceptance (e.g., Unwin, 1987 ; Unwin, 1988 ; Unwin, 1989 ; Unwin, 1999 ; Unwin, 2005 ; Unwin & Bakhurina, 1994 ; Ősi, 2011 ; Butler, Benson & Barrett, 2013 ; Benson et al, 2014 ; Whyte & Romano, 2014 ). The assumed contrast in terrestrial abilities between non-pterodactyloids and pterodactyloids has influenced considerations of not only non-pterodactyloid palaeobiology (e.g., lifestyles and diets—see Unwin, 2005 ; Ősi, 2011 ) but also the evolution of Pterosauria as a whole.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pterosaur body fossil record begins in at least the Norian but, to date, no definitively identified pterosaur trackways occur in rocks pre-dating the Aalenian ( Lockley, Harris & Mitchell, 2008 ; Whyte & Romano, 2014 ). The oldest occurrence of pterosaur tracks roughly coincides with the oldest evidence of pterodactyloids ( Andres, Clark & Xu, 2014 ; Whyte & Romano, 2014 ) and is seen as evidence for pterosaurs becoming ‘terrestrialised’, it being assumed that pterodactyloid anatomical nuances allowed exploitation of settings such as tidal flats and lake margins, and creation of a track record ( Unwin, 2005 ; Butler, Benson & Barrett, 2013 ). Non-pterodactyloids, by contrast, are assumed so poorly adapted for walking and running that they scarcely used such forms of locomotion, and thus rarely left footprints ( Unwin, 2005 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Were early pterosaurs inept terrestrial locomotors?

Witton

2015

PeerJ

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Pterodactyloid pterosaurs are widely interpreted as terrestrially competent, erect-limbed quadrupeds, but the terrestrial capabilities of non-pterodactyloids are largely thought to have been poor. This is commonly justified by the absence of a non-pterodactyloid footprint record, suggestions that the expansive uropatagia common to early pterosaurs would restrict hindlimb motion in walking or running, and the presence of sprawling forelimbs in some species. Here, these arguments are re-visited and mostly found problematic. Restriction of limb mobility is not a problem faced by extant animals with extensive fight membranes, including species which routinely utilise terrestrial locomotion. The absence of non-pterodactyloid footprints is not necessarily tied to functional or biomechanical constraints. As with other fully terrestrial clades with poor ichnological records, biases in behaviour, preservation, sampling and interpretation likely contribute to the deficit of early pterosaur ichnites. Suggestions that non-pterodactyloids have slender, mechanically weak limbs are demonstrably countered by the proportionally long and robust limbs of many Triassic and Jurassic species. Novel assessments of pterosaur forelimb anatomies conflict with notions that all non-pterodactyloids were obligated to sprawling forelimb postures. Sprawling forelimbs seem appropriate for species with ventrally-restricted glenoid articulations (seemingly occurring in rhamphorhynchines and campylognathoidids). However, some early pterosaurs, such as Dimorphodon macronyx and wukongopterids, have glenoid arthrologies which are not ventrally restricted, and their distal humeri resemble those of pterodactyloids. It seems fully erect forelimb stances were possible in these pterosaurs, and may be probable given proposed correlation between pterodactyloid-like distal humeral morphology and forces incurred through erect forelimb postures. Further indications of terrestrial habits include antungual sesamoids, which occur in the manus and pes anatomy of many early pterosaur species, and only occur elsewhere in terrestrial reptiles, possibly developing through frequent interactions of large claws with firm substrates. It is argued that characteristics possibly associated with terrestriality are deeply nested within Pterosauria and not restricted to Pterodactyloidea as previously thought, and that pterodactyloid-like levels of terrestrial competency may have been possible in at least some early pterosaurs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%