Italian paleontologist Fabio Dalla Vecchia, one of the world's leading experts on pterosaurs, told Discovery News, "The presence of up to three layers with differently oriented actinofibrils (in the wing membrane) is the most surprising thing in this study." "They were not observed in other well-preserved specimens and could mean that not all the pterosaur actinopatagia (wing structures) were built the same way," Dalla Vecchia added. He also said it's important that the new paper has better defined the pterosaur hair-like structures, and their distribution on the body, since this too wasn't known before. "This is a remarkably well-preserved specimen, showing the importance of the Chinese deposits to understand different aspects of extinct organisms," Kellner concluded. "Hopefully more such specimens will come to light to enable us to understand a little more about how such strange animals, the pterosaurs, were functioning." Related Links: Jennifer Viegas' Blog: Born Animal Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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