Why Did Pterosaurs Have Crests?

The incredible diversity of pterosaurs is perhaps best expressed in one of the prehistoric flying reptile's most intriguing and mysterious features: the head crest.

Pterosaur crests are thought to have been fairly ubiquitous, appearing in many groups of pterosaurs from the Triassic (252--201 million years ago) through the Jurassic (201--145 million years ago) and Cretaceous (145--66 million years ago) periods.

Why did pterosaurs have crests? There are competing theories, chief among them that crests serve as a form of species identification. Other possibilities include a role in sexual selection, heat regulation, as a rudder in flight, or as a keel in the water, stabilizing the reptile as it dove or skimmed for food.

Without living descendants for comparison and because pterosaur fossils are so rare, it's impossible to say for sure. Researchers would have to find thousands more fossils in different growth stages to answer the question.

#pterosaurs #dinosaurs #crests #flying #flight #crests #wings


Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs is on view from April 5, 2014, through January 4, 2015. Learn more about the exhibition at http://www.amnh.org/pterosaurs.

Episode 1: What Is a Pterosaur?
What Is a Pterosaur?

Episode 2: Why Are Pterosaur Fossils So Rare?
Why Are Pterosaur Fossils So Rare?

Episode 3: Why Did Pterosaurs Have Crests?
Why Did Pterosaurs Have Crests?

Episode 4: How are Pterosaur Names Pronounced?
How are Pterosaur Names Pronounced?

Episode 5: How Were Pterosaurs Adapted for Flight?
How Were Pterosaurs Adapted for Flight?

Episode 6: Meet the Paleontologists
Meet the Paleontologists

***
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Episode 1: What Is a Pterosaur?
What Is a Pterosaur?

Episode 2: Why Are Pterosaur Fossils So Rare?
Why Are Pterosaur Fossils So Rare?

Episode 3: Why Did Pterosaurs Have Crests?
Why Did Pterosaurs Have Crests?

Episode 4: How are Pterosaur Names Pronounced?
How are Pterosaur Names Pronounced?

Episode 5: How Were Pterosaurs Adapted for Flight?
How Were Pterosaurs Adapted for Flight?

Episode 6: Meet the Paleontologists
Meet the Paleontologists

***
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...

Check out our full video catalog:
amnhorg

Facebook: http://fb.com/naturalhistory
Twitter: Twitter: amnh
Tumblr: Tumblr: amnhnyc
Instagram: Instagram: amnh

***

VIDEO CREDITS:

MUSIC
"Red Square" by G. Small and F. Gerard/
Warner Chappell Production Music

ILLUSTRATION
©AMNH 2014

ANIMATION
AMNH/Exhibition Department

PHOTOGRAPHY
AMNH/C. Chesek

VIDEO
AMNH/J. Bauerle

This video and all media incorporated herein (including text, images, and audio) are the property of the American Museum of Natural History or its licensors, all rights reserved. The Museum has made this video available for your personal, educational use. You may not use this video, or any part of it, for commercial purposes, nor may you reproduce, distribute, publish, prepare derivative works from, or publicly display it without the prior written consent of the Museum.

© American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

• #science_technology
• #pterosaurs
• #flying_dinosaurs
• #dinosaurs
• #american_museum_of_natural_history