WASHINGTON, – Azhdarchid pterosaurs were massive flying reptiles that soared across the skies in the age of the dinosaurs, using their long bills to pick out their prey of fish and other river animals. One of the most intriguing things about them has been the extreme length of their necks — estimated at up to three meters (10 feet), which is longer than a giraffe’s and raised questions about how the animals could support its weight without snapping. By studying well-preserved vertebrae specimens excavated from Morocco, a team of scientists … Continue reading How the world’s largest flying animals supported their giant necks