Original paper
Introduction: Animal flight
Frey, E.; Riess, J.
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen Band 164 Heft 1-2 (1982), p. 145 - 147
6 references
published: Dec 22, 1982
DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/164/1982/145
ArtNo. ESP155016401033, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The air was the last adaptive zone to be invaded in the evolution of animal life. Based on our knowledge of the fossil record, insects were the first to exploit this niche. Later different vertebrate groups such as lizards, pterosaurs, birds and bats etc. also adapted to aerial locomotion. The type of locomotion employed by each taxon is largely dependent upon their size, due to the viscosity of the air. Small and slow-moving animals employ the viscosity of the air, larger taxa must create differences in pressure around the wing and body surfaces. As there are different methods and degrees of flight capabilities, different adaptations for flight evolved among animal taxa.
Keywords
animal life • fossils • insects • lizards • pterosaurs • birds • bats • wing