Wednesday, October 14, 2015

October unleashed. Phosphatodraco

  Five neck vertebrae may not be much to go on when describing a pterosaur,‭ ‬but the elongated vertebra of Phosphatodraco are a signature feature of the azdarchid group of pterosaurs.‭ ‬The vertebra of Phosphatodraco are also quite unique in themselves by being elongated at the base as well as higher up and also revealing the presence of neural spines.‭ ‬These caudal vertebrae have been speculated to have been modified dorsal vertebra from the back,‭ ‬and would have served to extend the characteristically long azdarchid neck even further.‭ ‬This would have allowed Phosphatodraco to move its head over a larger area while hunting without the need for re-positioning its body so often.

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