Hurry, the last day is October 2, 2016. The exhibit opened July 3rd. I waited until school was back in session to avoid the crowds.
Pterosaurs are considered flying reptiles even though they are believed to have been warm blooded and covered with fur. They were the first animals to fly after insects. The exhibit is fantastic! There are Pterosaurs from the size of an insect, Nemicolopterus Crypticus (shown above – under the head fossil of Tropeognathus Mesembrinus – say that fast 3 times) to 16 feet tall – standing on all for limbs – and having a 22 foot wingspan, Quetzalcoatlus Northrop. Named after the flying Aztec god is the size of a F-16 fighter jet (below). Can you imagine the Pterosaur next to me if it was 16 feet tall? I marked 12 feet on the wall near the ceiling. Imagine another 4 feet above that! I’m 6 foot 2 inches – 10 feet taller than me – Wow! I marked 0 close to me and 11 feet to the far right in the photo. This is the length of one wing! Quetzalcoatlus will certainly be on my list for a metal dinosaur to create!
The latest find in Central Romanian is a Pterosaur with a 33 foot wingspan! Hatzegopteryx believed to be in the Quetzalcoatlus family.
Special Note: My Pteranodon, Antonio has a large number of teeth. The Pteranodon’s didn’t have teeth per anthropologist’s studies of their fossils. Mine must be a rare hybrid. That’s what is great about metal dinosaurs, your imagination can create any kind of dinosaur you wish. You must admit, Antonio looks pretty kool with lots of teeth.
When pterosaurs walked they tucked up their wings. The fourth finger connected to the hand by a roller joint allowing their wings to fold like umbrella spokes.
There is evidence that pterosaurs tussled with larger animals like the scene in the 1933 King Kong classic. A Pterosaur skeleton was found with a broken tooth from a Spinosaurus in its neck vertebra.
Dinosaurs, birds and pterosaurs are closely related. The common ancestor for dinosaurs and pterosaurs lived 230 million years ago. Afterwards the two groups evolved separately. Birds evolved from a feathered theropod 150 million years ago. Dinosaurs and Pterosaurs went extinct about 66 million years ago. It was certainly a learning experience for me in the variety of Pterosaurs. I was only aware of the Pteranodon, Rhamphorynchus and Dimorphodon. There is so much more to see and learn with touch screen displays.
But the best part of the exhibit was saved for last. There are 3 pads with big screen monitors in front. This allows 3 people at a time to control their own Pteranodon. When you move your arms you control the Pteranodon’s wings. Tilt/lean your body and the Pteranodon matches your angle. You can dive for fish glide/fly over mountains and oceans. You are in control! Fantastic!
Again you must Hurry to the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, after October 2nd they will be gone!
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