In the skies above ancient seas and lakes, pterosaurs soared gracefully. These fascinating, feathered creatures varied in size from that of a pigeon to that of an aircraft, making them the earliest known vertebrates capable of flight. For millions of years, they sported long tails that ended in a distinctive flap of skin referred to as a vane.

Paleontologists have long been intrigued by the unusual design of this appendage and its function. A recent study utilizing advanced laser scanning technology has uncovered new structural features in four pterosaur fossils, suggesting that the vane played a crucial role in stabilizing flight maneuverability.

Published in December in the journal eLife, the research reveals that “even specimens that scientists have thoroughly examined for centuries may still hold new secrets when new technologies are applied,” explained Natalia Jagielska, a paleontologist at the Lyme Regis Museum in England and the lead author of the paper.

Dr. Jagielska, who also works as a professional artist, became engaged in this study when Michael Pittman, a paleontologist from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, approached her to illustrate a children’s book. They collaborated to analyze pterosaur fossils housed in collections across England and Scotland.

The research team examined over 100 pterosaur specimens and selected four from the species Rhamphorhynchus, which are known for their kite-shaped, diamond-like tail vanes, for further investigation using laser-stimulated fluorescence. Dr. Pittman, along with Thomas G. Kaye, director of the Foundation for Scientific Advancement and a co-author of the study, have championed this technique for studying dinosaur-era fossils and for archaeological research.