Morphological Modifications Page 5

Other Skeletal Elements
Flight imposes tremendous amounts of stress on the skeleton. In order to cope with these stresses, extensive fusing of skeletal elements occurred in Pterosaurs. In Pterodactyloids, the pelvic girdle is fused, and the scapula was fused directly to the sacral vertebrae.

Keeled sternum.
Pteranodon

Humerus.
Ramphorhynchus

© 1991 Christopher McGowan
Dinosaurs, Spitfires & Sea Dragons.

There was a large keeled sternum (which served as muscle attachment points for large flight muscles), muscle attachment processes on the humerus, and specialized joints in shoulder.

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© Patrick Lyons 1998.