Pterosaurs' Ground Adaptations Key to Their Gigantic Growth

New research reveals that terrestrial adaptations helped pterosaurs evolve from small tree-dwellers to the largest flying animals.

Researchers from the University of Leicester studied pterosaur fossils to understand their evolutionary adaptations.
Early pterosaurs had specialized hands and feet for climbing, limiting them to smaller sizes and arboreal habitats.
During the Middle Jurassic, pterosaurs developed features suited for walking, allowing them to explore new ecological niches.
These terrestrial adaptations enabled pterosaurs to grow larger, with some species reaching wingspans of up to 10 meters.
The study highlights the importance of examining pterosaur locomotion beyond flight to understand their ecological roles.