The Quetz Monograph
So, the long awaited through description of Quetzalcoatlus has finally been published. It has already been extensively discussed, but I feel lke I can squeeze a few facts.
The Good
The smaller Quetzalcoatlus species has finally been described, Q. lawsoni.
An extensive description of the stratigraphy and palaeoecology of the Javelina Formation has been supplied; it appears Q. lawsoni favoured alkaline habitats like a demented flamingo, while the larger Q. northropi was a more solitary animal and probably frequently plains biomes.
The terrestrial foraging hypothesis has been vindicated, and interesting insights on the nature of Quetzalcoatlus‘ feeding behaviour have been noted.
It is remarked that not only at least 18 lineages of non-azhdarchid pterosaurs made it across to the Late Cretaceous, but pterosaurs as a whole show an increase in diversity towards the end. Hopefully this will shut up people always whining about decline.
The Bad
Apparently Padian really, really screwed up with his take on azhdarchid hindlimbs. I already got suspicious when he only quoted his own works in regards to pterosaur limb function, but Mark Witton on Twitter has displayed every single thing he got wrong.
Wellnhopterus. Can people please read other publications before coming up with names? Now there’s a debate on whereas it is more valid than Javelinadactylus.
