Flight posture of Rhamphorhynchus muensteri (Pterosauria, Rhamphorhynchidae)

• Grant number: 24/03180-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Paleozoology
• Principal Investigator: Fabiana Rodrigues Costa Nunes
• Grantee: Miguel Xavier Mailho Maia
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/03099-7 - Tridimensional modeling and locomotor biomechanics in extinct vertebrates, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

Pterosaurs - the first vertebrate group to develop active flight - were widely diversified (even morphologically) and occupied various ecological niches. Among of these winged reptiles, Rhamphorhynchus muensteri stands out for itsabundance of specimens and remarkable preservation (e.g. three-dimensional specimens, presence of soft tissue such as wing membranes, and even stomach contents). Consequently, R. muensteri has been studied since the 19th century with historically significant specimens like "Zittel's Wing". To comprehend the flight style of this species, an analysis of its wing posture during flight will be conducted using well-known specimens, such as MGUH 1891.738 housed at Copenhagen Zoological Museum, Denmark. This analysis will involve creating a 3D osteological model, myological reconstruction, building the final musculoskeletal model and biomechanical testing of wing flight movements. Understanding the flight posture of this pterosaur species will contribute to advancing our knowledge of the overall flight dynamics of the group, providing insights into the paleobiological aspects of a completely extinct group.