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Perhaps ptersaurs could also use their long necks and big heads to start their center of gravity higher before launch? Dropping a mass (head/neck) from higher
by jeffdavis 8y ago
Perhaps ptersaurs could also use their long necks and big heads to start their center of gravity higher before launch?
Dropping a mass (head/neck) from higher up while launching keeps the center of gravity about the same requiring much less effort for the critical "get off the ground" phase.
Perhaps the article addressed this; I'm only halfway through.
- prawn 8y agoPelicans, which have always reminded me of pterosaurs, seem to do this slightly when they launch. Video I took the other week of one: https://serio.com.au/images/projects/eyre-peninsula-videos/SERIO-20190301-0266.mp4 https://serio.com.au/images/projects/eyre-peninsula-videos/S...
- Tor3 8y agoIt's very different actually - the pelican, as every other bird, uses its hind legs to push off, while the pterosaurs (and some bats) push off with their forelegs - and the latter ones are very powerful and can be re-used for flight, unlike the powerful hindlegs of large birds which are just dead weight when they're airborne.
- cma 8y agoIf the muscles could do it it would be better to start head low and get it moving upwards fast as possible while making ground contact for a lot of upwards momentum, then at apogee of head height drop it.