Find a science fiction film with a dungeon.

Open classification: natural science, biology, paleontology, reptiles, dinosaurs

Pterosaurus

originally meant "flying reptiles". Pterosaur, which appeared on the earth in Mesozoic Triassic, was the first vertebrate to fly, but some people suspected that it was only a hollow name and could only glide in the sky at best. However, the latest research shows that pterodactyl can not only fly like a bird, but also be an expert in flying because of its well-developed nerve tissue processing balance information in the brain.

Researchers at Ohio University in the United States reported in the latest issue of Nature that they used computer tomography scanning technology to build a three-dimensional image of pterodactyl brain based on fossils. The image shows that the cerebellar lobe of pterodactyl is quite developed, and its mass accounts for 7.5% of the brain mass, which is the highest proportion among known vertebrates. In contrast, the cerebellar lobes of birds who are good at flying only account for 1% to 2% of their brain mass.

The largest pterodactyl is the Pterosaur. The spread wings are 12 meters long.

The world's first pterodactyl embryo fossil was recently discovered by paleontologists Wang Xiaolin and Dr. Zhou Zhonghe in the Jehol biota in western Liaoning, China. On June 1th this year, relevant research papers were published in Nature, the most famous academic journal in the world. Because of this great discovery, Nature also distributed relevant news reports and pictures in the "Today's News" column on the homepage of its website. This importance was also reported in the American magazine Science published on June 11th. Due to the discovery of such an extremely precious fossil, people today have obtained strong evidence that pterosaurs, the Mesozoic air overlord who appeared at the same time as dinosaurs and died out at the same time, flew into the blue sky about 7 million years earlier than birds, were not viviparous, but laid eggs like other reptiles and birds.

As early as March this year, Wang Xiaolin, a researcher at the Institute of vertebrate paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, showed a major discovery to reporters. It is said that it is a fossil of a pterodactyl that has not yet hatched. The developing pterodactyl embryo has lost its bones and can be clearly distinguished.

It was discovered by two researchers, Wang Xiaolin and his colleague Zhou Zhonghe, when they visited the Jehol biota in western Liaoning. Fossils were produced in the stratum deposited by a lake in Yixian, Jinzhou, western Liaoning, about 121 million years ago. A large number of beautifully preserved wolffin fish, manchurian crocodiles and some pterosaur and bird fossils have been found in this place.

However, its significance seems to be far more than that. On the road of scientific exploration, it is more like a magical time and space shuttle. Today, 121 million years later, people can still glimpse many details of prehistoric pterosaurs.

Embryonic fossils convey the clearest signal: pterosaurs, like birds and other reptiles, were oviparous rather than viviparous.

"I believe it has solved a mystery." Wang Xiaolin said, "The biggest message it conveys is that pterosaurs are oviparous, not viviparous." Whether pterosaurs were viviparous or oviparous has always been a controversial topic.

Although some fragments of pterodactyl eggs have been reported since the discovery of pterodactyl in the 18th century, there is no scientific evidence to prove that these eggshell fragments belong to pterodactyl, so the first pterodactyl egg discovered this time is also the first pterodactyl embryo fossil, which is of great significance.

According to Wang Xiaolin, pterosaurs are close relatives of dinosaurs. They lived in the same era and were the first reptiles to fly into the blue sky. People often mistake pterosaurs for "flying dinosaurs". Pterosaurs originated in the Late Triassic about 22 million years ago and became extinct at the end of Cretaceous 65 million years ago. When dinosaurs occupied the landing land, pterosaurs always controlled the sky.

pterosaurs have complex behaviors similar to those of birds today. Scientists have reason to believe that they reproduce by laying eggs, laying eggs on the sand of lakes or beaches, and perhaps incubating eggs to take care of their young.

Pterosaur is a very special kind of reptile, with unique skeletal structural features.

As early as 1784, when the Italian paleontologist Coligny discovered the first pterosaur fossil in Germany, he was not even sure what kind of animal it belonged to. Some people thought it lived in the ocean, others thought it was a transitional type between birds and bats, and so on. It was not until 181 that Ju Weiye, a famous French comparative anatomist, identified it as pterodactyl, belonging to reptiles. In fact, pterosaur fossils were discovered more than half a century earlier than dinosaurs. Since the discovery of pterosaur fossils, people have been full of curiosity about this kind of very strange animals that first flew into the sky and have been searching hard.

Pterosaur's forelimbs are highly specialized, and the fourth finger is lengthened and thickened to become a flying wing finger. It consists of four phalanges with no claws at the front end. Together with the forelimbs, it forms a solid front edge of the flying wing, supporting and connecting the membranes of the body side and hind limbs, forming a wing membrane similar to a bird's wing that can fly. Pterosaur's wrist developed a unique pterygoid bone that extended forward to the shoulder and played a supporting role in the pterygoid membrane. The first to third fingers grow outside the wing membrane and become hooked claws, and the fifth finger degenerates and disappears.

The wing membrane structure that supports pterosaurs' flight is completely different from that of vertebrates, such as birds and bats, which can fly afterwards.

There is no doubt that the embryo belongs to pterodactyl, and the preserved skeleton shows no doubt.

"Not only the bones are intact, but also the wing membrane fibers and skin are preserved, and the eggshell and its mastoid structure are also well preserved." Researcher Wang Xiaolin told reporters. The scientist described the preservation of fossil skeletons as "exquisite".

Through the microscope, the reporter observed a clearer expression. The boundary of the egg is smooth, and the egg is brown and dark, which is obviously different from the gray-yellow surrounding rock.

"There is no doubt that the embryo belongs to pterodactyl, because the preserved skeleton shows the humerus with a fairly long fourth finger and a well-developed triangular ridge." Wang Xiaolin said, "In addition, in many areas, the mastoid decorative structure with almost equal size and nearly round shape is regularly preserved, which is the direct evidence of eggshells and embryos."

Surprisingly, there is a small fish fossil on one side of pterosaur embryo fossil.

"It is not easy to find an embryo fossil of a species in nature, but this discovery is particularly important. It is not an ordinary species, but the first one to fly into the sky, and it is also the first discovery of the embryo of pterosaur, the only extinct among the three flying vertebrates." Wang Xiaolin said.

However, it's more legendary than that. On one side of pterosaur embryo fossil, there is a small fish-the fossil of Wolf-fin fish that lived in the same era as pterosaur. The two are extremely rare.

The imagination aroused by such a "perfect match" fossil is shocking. The two fossils are small in size, but they are well preserved, and the bones and scales of the fish are intact. The story of two kinds of animals dying at the same time due to volcanic eruption seems vivid.

Birds have feathers on their wings, which are very effective for flight and body insulation. Although bats have no feathers on their wing membranes, they have three phalanges as supports, which play an important role in flapping their wings and flying. There is no skeleton support except fibers in pterodactyl's wing membrane. Therefore, according to the traditional view, pterodactyl can't fly freely in the blue sky for a long distance like birds, but can only glide or hover on the water near its living environment, such as the rocks or Woods near the seaside or lake. However, the latest research on pterodactyl brain CT scanning and shoulder straps shows that pterodactyl not only can glide for a short distance, but also probably has strong flying ability.

Up to now, more than 12 species of pterosaur fossils have been found and named in the world.

the individual size and shape of pterodactyl are very different, such as pterodactyl fossils found in Texas in the 197s. Its wings spread out about 12 meters, which is equivalent to the width of an F-16 fighter, while the others are shaped like sparrows. There are two kinds of pterosaurs. The early beak-billed dinosaurs were primitive, mainly living in Jurassic, and had a long tail. Late pterodactyls mainly lived in Cretaceous, and their tails were very short or even disappeared.

Pterosaurs belong to reptiles, but they are probably warm-blooded animals. In the 2th century, except for British paleontology, pterosaurs had the ability to move quickly, like bats, with hairs on their bodies and similar living habits of birds. Therefore, pterosaurs should be warm-blooded animals with constant body temperature. Later, the imprint of "Mao" was found on the fossil of beak-billed dragon found in Germany. In 197, a relatively complete pterodactyl fossil with "hair" was found in Kazakhstan. British paleontologists thought it was undoubtedly a warm-blooded animal by studying the hair and wing membrane structure of this specimen. These "hairs" on the pterosaur's body keep warm, prevent the loss of heat in the body, and have the function of regulating body temperature, which can directly prove that pterosaur is a warm-blooded warm-blooded animals.

In addition, the complete skeleton of pterosaur Jehol, which was found in Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia, was covered with fur, which further proved that pterosaur was a warm-blooded animal. Recently, the imprint of blood vessels regulating body temperature was found on the huge ridge structure of Brazilian sea-skimming pterosaur, which is also the direct evidence that pterosaur is a warm-blooded animal. Another piece of evidence comes from the fact that pterodactyl bones, like birds, have some small air sacs that regulate body temperature.

In fact, in order to meet the needs of flight, pterodactyl has a physiological mechanism of constant internal heat and body temperature, a high level of metabolism, a developed nervous system and an efficient circulatory and respiratory system, making it the most unlike reptile.

Pterosaur, a close relative of dinosaurs, lived in the same era, was a reptile flying into the blue sky, and was sometimes mistaken for a "flying dinosaur". Pterosaurs originated in the Late Triassic about 215 million years ago and died out at the end of Cretaceous 65 million years ago. When dinosaurs dominated the landing land, pterosaurs controlled the sky.

Pterosaur is a very special kind of reptile, with unique skeletal structural features. As early as 1784, when the Italian paleontologist Coligny discovered the first pterosaur fossil in Germany, he was not even sure what kind of animal it belonged to. Some people thought it lived in the ocean, others thought it was a transitional type between birds and bats, and so on. It was not until 181 that Ju Weiye identified it as a pterodactyl, belonging to reptiles.

Pterosaurs can't fly freely and long distances in the blue sky like birds, but can only glide near their living environment, such as rocks or Woods on the seashore and lakeside, and sometimes hover on the water.

Pterosaurs flew into the sky about 7, years earlier than birds, and began to adapt to life in the air in the late Triassic, and successfully survived on the earth for 15 million years. In order to meet the needs of flying, pterosaurs have many skeletal characteristics similar to birds, such as porous skull, hollow and light bones, sudden sternum and keel, and so on.

Up to now, more than 12 species of pterosaur fossils have been found and named in the world. The individual size and shape of pterodactyl are very different. The largest one is the pterodactyl fossil found in Texas in the 197s. Its wings spread about 1 6 meters, and the width is equivalent to that of an F-16 fighter. The smallest one is like a sparrow. There are two kinds of pterosaurs. The early beak-billed dinosaurs were primitive, mainly living in Jurassic, and had a long tail. Late pterodactyls mainly lived in Cretaceous, and their tails were very short or even disappeared.

Pterosaurs belong to reptiles, but they are probably warm-blooded animals. At the beginning of the 2th century, British paleontologists speculated that pterosaurs were warm-blooded animals with constant body temperature, with fast movement, hairy body like bats and similar living habits to birds. Later, the imprint of hair was found on the fossil of beak-billed dragon found in Germany. In 197, a relatively complete pterodactyl fossil with "hair" was found in Kazakhstan. British paleontologists thought it was undoubtedly a warm-blooded animal by studying the hair and wing membrane structure of this specimen. These "hairs" on the pterosaur's body are insulated to prevent the loss of heat in the body and have the function of regulating body temperature. Another evidence comes from the bones of pterosaurs, which, like birds, have some small air sacs for regulating body temperature. Recently, the discovery of the "hairy" Jehol pterodactyl in western Liaoning of China further proves that at least some small pterodactyls are warm-blooded animals. More and more fossil evidence shows that some pterosaurs have the physiological mechanism of constant internal heat and body temperature, high metabolic level, developed nervous system and efficient circulatory and respiratory system to meet the needs of flight, and become the most unlike reptiles.

members of flying reptiles that flourished in the Mesozoic Jurassic (28 million years ago to 144 million years ago) and Cretaceous (144 million years ago to 66.4 million years ago). Pterosauria belongs to Archosauria, a subclass of reptiles. Dinosaurs and crocodiles also belong to the subclass Gulong, and birds are descendants of Gulong. In Triassic (from 245 million years ago to 28 million years ago), the ancient dragons tended to walk with two feet, so the forelimbs were free to be used in other ways. Both birds and pterodactyls also transformed their forelimbs into wings. Pterosaurs have wings formed by skin membranes, which are like bats rather than birds. Bats support their membranes with other phalanges besides their thumbs. However, the pterosaur's membrane only attached to a slender finger (the fourth finger), extending backward along the side to the knee; There is an additional membrane between the neck and the arm. The front three phalanges are claw-like slender hooks. Its membrane seems to be fully adapted to flying and gliding, but it is not as flexible as bat's membrane or bird's wing, and it is more fragile. The body is strong, the hind legs are long and thin, and its structure shows that it is not suitable for vertical movement or rest, and it is suspended by the hind legs when resting. The neck seems to be upright when flying, at right angles to the head and forward. The skull is light and strong, and most bones are fused together; Having a slender mouth; The eyes are large, and like many birds, the eyeballs are reinforced by a series of bone plates (scleral rings) located on its four walls. Big brain, obviously comparable to birds. The dominant sense of this kind is vision rather than smell. Most fossils are found in marine strata, so it is possible to get food by diving fishing. But it is difficult to understand how to take off from the ground or water after flying backward.

there are two main types of pterosaurs known. Although there were early types in the Late Triassic, Rhamphorhynchus in the late Jurassic Solenhofen slate was a primitive type. The characteristics of this kind include sharp sharp teeth, short metacarpal bones (the bones supporting fingers) and a long tail with a diamond tip. The wingspan is about 1 meter (3.3 feet). Pterodactylus, the second largest pterodactyl, appeared in Jurassic one night and continued to Cretaceous. The typical Jurassic type is Pterodactylus, and many specimens are found in Sorenhofen slate. Pterodactyl is generally a small reptile, some specimens are as small as sparrows, and its features include small teeth, long metacarpals and short tail. The descendants of pterodactyl type lasted until Cretaceous, and were usually larger. The best representative is Pteranodon in the chalk layer of Kansas. The genus Pterosaur is larger than albatross, with a wingspan of 7 meters or more. In 1975, the Late Cretaceous non-marine in Big Bend National Park, Texas.