Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight. This core reference work summarises state-of-the-art research on pterosaur taxonomy, phylogeny and evolutionary history, as well as recent advances in our understanding of pterosaur diversity and the distribution of these creatures. Compiled by a team of more than 20 experts from 8 different countries, this work provides the most extensive account yet written of pterosaur systematics. Highlights include detailed reviews of the geology and palaeontology of principal pterosaur localities; comprehensive accounts of pterosaur biogeography and preservation; detailed systematic reviews of the more than 130 species of pterosaur described so far; and the first detailed account of pterosaur evolution to include important new finds such as Darwinopterus. Illustrated with unique line drawings and photographs, The Pterosauria is a one-stop resource for academics, students of palaeontology, geology and biology, and amateur enthusiasts interested in these flying reptiles.
• Provides detailed descriptions and illustrations of more than 130 known species and key fossil localities • Presents the most extensive treatment of pterosaur phylogeny to date, including extensive synopses of metric data, phylogenetic characters and distribution of fossils in time and space • Includes results from recent studies and exciting new finds from China such as Darwinopterus
Contents
List of contributors; Foreword Peter Wellnhofer; 1. Introduction David M. Martill and David M. Unwin; 2. Pterosaur research since 1991: an overview David M. Unwin and David M. Martill; 3. The pterosaur fossil record Fabio Dalla-Vecchia, Mike Everhart, Dino Frey, Nizar Ibrahim, Lü Junchang, David Martill, Helmut Tischlinger and David M. Unwin; 4. A review of pterosaur phylogeny Brian Andres; 5. Pterosaur systematics Brian Andres, Eric Buffetaut, Laura Codorniu, Fabio Dalla-Vecchia, Dino Frey, David Hone, Lü Junchang, David Martill, Darren Naish, David Unwin and Mark Witton; 6. Pterosaur trace fossils Martin Lockley and Jerry Harris; 7. Pterosaur palaeobiogeography Paul Upchurch, Richard Butler, Brian Andres and Paul Barrett; 8. Pterosaurs in time and space David Unwin; Appendix 1. Pterosaur synonymies Mike Hanson; Appendix 2. Data matrices for cladistic analysis of pterosaurs Brian Andres; Appendix 3. The fossil record of the Pterosauria David Unwin; Appendix 4. Nomina Anatomica Pterosauria David Unwin and David Martill; Appendix 5. Metric data Ross Elgin; Index.
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