Date of Award
2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biology
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Middleton, Kevin M.
Second Advisor
Sumida, Stuart S.
Third Advisor
Owerkowicz, Tomasz
Abstract
Pterosaurs are one of only three groups of vertebrates to have evolved flapping flight and the only such group that is extinct. Differences in relative lengths of skeletal elements are known to influence flight mechanics and aerodynamic performance in extant vertebrates. To explore the possibility of similar patterns in Pterosauria, the author examined the allometric scaling of the lengths of pterosaur skeletal elements across their entire phylogentic range and through ontogenetic growth in three species.
Recommended Citation
English, Lauren Taylor, "Allometry of the pterosaur wing skeleton" (2012). Theses Digitization Project. 4566.
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/4566
