Flat bones that may be pterosaur
The main bones of a pterosaur that appear flat are skull fragments, pelvis, sternum and crushed bones. These bones tend to be very variable between individuals and families of pterosaurs. They will also exhibit different shapes if they are fragments of bone.
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Left and right; Sternum from a Pteranodon. The front end is facing downwards - notice the notches where the scapulocoracoid bones fit on the inner side of the sternum (right). The facets on either side of the wide part of the sternum are where the ribs attach. |
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Some species of pterosaur, especially the rhamphorhynchoids, have offset coracoid notches on the sternum - one being in front of the other.
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This humerus from a Pteranodon has been flattened by the
pressure of sediment during fossilisation. The bones air cavity has
caused the collapse and a once thick structure appears to be a flat sheet of
bone. This can happen to any large pterosaur long bone. Even the bones of small pterosaurs can show collapsed structures. It is unusual to find pterosaur long bones that have not collapsed in part or completely. |
