CNN reports: ‘Some pterosaurs soared like vultures, while others flapped their wings’

Well… duh!
The CNN report was based on the Rosenbach et al 2024 study of 3D bone fossils of a new taxon, Inabtanin alarabia (YUPC-INAB-6-001–010), from the Late Cretaceous of Jordan that were µCT scanned to view their interiors.

The authors wrote,
“A partial skeleton of an adult individual consisting of an upper and lower jaw, three cervical vertebrae and a small fragment of a fourth, a left scapulocoracoid, a left humerus, and a nearly complete right wing consisting of a humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpal IV, and first wing phalanx (YUPC-INAB-6-001–010).”

Diagnosis
“Inabtanin alarabia is identified as an azhdarchoid pterosaur based on a long, edentulous beak and a humerus with a deltopectoral crest that originates from a distally placed position on the shaft and is rectangular, flat, and elongate in shape. Inabtanin alarabia differs from other azhdarchoids based on the presence of a deep laterally compressed lower jaw, short cervical vertebrae (length-to-width ratio that is less than 5), and gracile distal wing bones (length-to-width ratios of at least 10).”

1. After testing ‘Azhdarchoidea’ (= azhdarchoid pterosaur) is an invalid clade comprised of tapejarids and azhdarchids, unrelated to one another in the large pterosaur tree (LPT, 263 taxa).

2. After analysis based on just a few parts (Fig 1) Inabtanin alarabia nests as a primitive Pteranodon. However Pteranodon is a genus/clade known for robust wing elements. Those elements of Inabtanin are not robust.

2. No ‘distal wing bones’ (= manual digit 4) are otherwise mentioned or illustrated, only the first = proximal wing phalanx. Better to use terms like ‘digit’ or ‘phalanx’ than ‘wing bones’.

Graphic to scale comparisons to tested taxa
(Fig 1) reveal Inabtanin to be similar in most regards to the Goshura specimen of Tupuxuara. However, the humerus is more similar to that of Noripterus, a gracile dsungaripterid only half the size of Inabtanin. Dsungaripterids gave rise to tapejarids in the LPT.

Given the distinctive shape of the humerus, a dsungaripterid affinity is likely.

Getting back to soaring vs flapping
Inabtanin bone interiors were found to be more similar to those of flapping birds.

All publicity images published so far for Inabtanin,
(Fig 2) based on scraps, have given it an azhdarchid appearance with vestigial wing phalanges 2,3,4, making the wing finger not reach the elbow – making it flapping, but flightless. Comparisons to pterosaurs similar to Inabtanin (Fig 1) do not confirm the proportions shown in published images.

Seems there was an inappropriate bias toward azhdarchids with Inabtanin.

References
Rosenbach KL et al (5 co-authors) 2024. New pterosaur remains from the Late Cretaceous of Afro-Arabia provide insight into flight capacity of large pterosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2024.2385068

Publicity
phys.org/news/2024-09-pterosaurs-soar-flight-capability-giants
cnn.com/2024/09/09/science/pterosaur-flight-flapping-soaring

wiki/Inabtanin

Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2024/09/11/cnn-reports-some-pterosaurs-soared-like-vultures-while-others-flapped-their-wings/