Overview
- A peer-reviewed study published Nov. 26 in Current Biology concludes pterosaurs likely achieved powered flight early in their evolution rather than through a long, stepwise process.
- High-resolution CT scans and 3-D endocasts reveal enlarged optic lobes in flightless lagerpetids as well as in pterosaurs, suggesting enhanced vision emerged before takeoff.
- Pterosaur brains were relatively small for body size, resembling those of non-flying dinosaurs and differing markedly from the larger-brained condition in modern birds.
- The findings contrast with evidence that bird flight evolved gradually with expansions of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and optic lobes, including 2024 work emphasizing cerebellar growth.
- Authors note that clarifying internal brain organization, beyond cavity size and shape, will be key to explaining how different vertebrate lineages mastered flight.