Difference between revisions of "Pterosaur"
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'''Pterosaurs''' (Greek "winged lizards") are an extinct order of flying [[reptile]]s. Their varied skull morphology likely allowed them to exploit numerous food sources. | '''Pterosaurs''' (Greek "winged lizards") are an extinct order of flying [[reptile]]s. Their varied skull morphology likely allowed them to exploit numerous food sources. | ||
| − | + | ==Evolutionary View== | |
| − | == | + | Evolutionists claim that fossil evidence indicates that that they were buried throughout the [[Mesozoic Era]] group of rocks. This is consistent with the evolutionary belief that they were the first [[vertebrates]] to achieve powered flight.<ref>[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/pterosauria.html Introduction to the Pterosauria]. Accessed 13 May 2007.</ref> |
| + | |||
| + | ==Creationary View== | ||
While the [[Great Flood]] explains the current absence of many species in the [[fossil record]] such as terrestrial [[dinosaurs]], it is more problematic to use this to explain the absence of pterosaurs, who like birds could avoid being drowned through flight. Possible explanations are that because pterosaurs are [[reptile]]s, not [[birds]], their [[bone]]s would not have been hollow and could probably not support sustained [[flight]] for long periods. | While the [[Great Flood]] explains the current absence of many species in the [[fossil record]] such as terrestrial [[dinosaurs]], it is more problematic to use this to explain the absence of pterosaurs, who like birds could avoid being drowned through flight. Possible explanations are that because pterosaurs are [[reptile]]s, not [[birds]], their [[bone]]s would not have been hollow and could probably not support sustained [[flight]] for long periods. | ||
| − | However, there is also the possibility that some pterosaurs have survived to this day in remote areas <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669608/posts | + | ==Extant Pterosaurs== |
| + | |||
| + | However, there is also the possibility that some pterosaurs have survived to this day in remote areas. There have been many reports of pterosaurs or pterosaur-like creatures throughout history and in present times<ref>[http://www.rae.org/egscphrv.html The Rhamphorhynchoid Pterosaur: A "Living Fossil" Until the 17th Century], John Goertzen, MS, 1998.</ref>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[pagan]] [[historian]] [[Herodotus]] describes [[Arabian]] "winged serpents" as being small, varied in color, producing a horrible screech, and having wings very closely resembling those of a [[bat]]. They were said to have guarded the Arabian [[frankincense]] trees, which made harvesting of that precious aromatic resin very difficult, requiring the use of protective ox hides and smoke to disperse the animals<ref>''The History of Herodotus'', Book III, 107-110.</ref>. They were also said to live in the mountains near the city of [[Buto]] (where Herodotus saw their remains firsthand) and would every spring fly in great numbers towards [[Egypt]], kept in check only by flocks of [[ibises]] which preyed upon them. Arabian tradition held that, if not for ibis predation, the whole world would swarm with these pterosaurs<ref>''The History of Herodotus'', Book II, 75-76.</ref>. These "winged serpents" were corroborated by [[Aristotle]]<ref>''History of Animals'', Book I, Chapter V</ref> and [[Cicero]]<ref>''The Nature of the Gods'', Book I, Section XXXVI</ref>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[Jewish]] historian [[Flavius Josephus]] recounts how [[Moses]], while serving as a general in the Egyptian army during the war with the [[Ethiopians]], employed a wonderful stratagem involving baskets of ibises to protected his men from serpents, "some of which ascend out of the ground unseen, and also fly in the air, and so come upon men at unawares, and do them a mischief."<ref>''Antiquities of the Jews'', Book II, Chapter X: "How Moses Made War With The Ethiopians"</ref> Also, according to the Bible, Moses, while later leading his people out of Egypt, had to deal with fiery flying serpents<ref>''Deuteronomy'' 8:15 and ''Numbers'' 21:6-9 recount Moses' battles with these pterosaur-like animals. They are also mentioned in Isaiah 14:29 and Isaiah 30:6.</ref><ref>[http://www.rae.org/pteroets.html The Bible and Pterosaurs: Archaeological and Linguistic Studies of Jurassic Animals that Lived Recently], John Goertzen, MS, 1998.</ref>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In more modern times, the people of [[Papua New Guinea]] have reported two distinct species of pterosaurs-like creatures: the small ''Ropen'' and the large pterodactyl-like ''Duah''. Both are said to [[bioluminescence | bioluminesce]], a trait that was undoubtedly original to the pterosaur [[baraminology | baramins]] and would explain the Biblical appellation of "fiery".<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669608/posts "Pterosaur-like Creatures Reported in Papua New Guinea"], Free Republic, 20 July 2006.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pterosaurs have also been reported in [[Africa]] -- where they go by the name ''Kongamato'' ("Overwhelmer of boats") throughout Central Africa, ''Sasabonsam'' in Ghana, and ''Olitiau'' in Cameroon and Nigeria -- and in the Americas, where [[Native Americans]] tell of large bird-like creatures with reptilian characteristics, including the [[Thunderbird]] of the Southwest and the ''Quetzalcoatl'' of [[Central America]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | |||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:reptiles]] | [[Category:reptiles]] | ||
Revision as of 21:45, June 13, 2008
Pterosaurs (Greek "winged lizards") are an extinct order of flying reptiles. Their varied skull morphology likely allowed them to exploit numerous food sources.
Evolutionary View
Evolutionists claim that fossil evidence indicates that that they were buried throughout the Mesozoic Era group of rocks. This is consistent with the evolutionary belief that they were the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight.[1]
Creationary View
While the Great Flood explains the current absence of many species in the fossil record such as terrestrial dinosaurs, it is more problematic to use this to explain the absence of pterosaurs, who like birds could avoid being drowned through flight. Possible explanations are that because pterosaurs are reptiles, not birds, their bones would not have been hollow and could probably not support sustained flight for long periods.
Extant Pterosaurs
However, there is also the possibility that some pterosaurs have survived to this day in remote areas. There have been many reports of pterosaurs or pterosaur-like creatures throughout history and in present times[2].
The pagan historian Herodotus describes Arabian "winged serpents" as being small, varied in color, producing a horrible screech, and having wings very closely resembling those of a bat. They were said to have guarded the Arabian frankincense trees, which made harvesting of that precious aromatic resin very difficult, requiring the use of protective ox hides and smoke to disperse the animals[3]. They were also said to live in the mountains near the city of Buto (where Herodotus saw their remains firsthand) and would every spring fly in great numbers towards Egypt, kept in check only by flocks of ibises which preyed upon them. Arabian tradition held that, if not for ibis predation, the whole world would swarm with these pterosaurs[4]. These "winged serpents" were corroborated by Aristotle[5] and Cicero[6].
The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus recounts how Moses, while serving as a general in the Egyptian army during the war with the Ethiopians, employed a wonderful stratagem involving baskets of ibises to protected his men from serpents, "some of which ascend out of the ground unseen, and also fly in the air, and so come upon men at unawares, and do them a mischief."[7] Also, according to the Bible, Moses, while later leading his people out of Egypt, had to deal with fiery flying serpents[8][9].
In more modern times, the people of Papua New Guinea have reported two distinct species of pterosaurs-like creatures: the small Ropen and the large pterodactyl-like Duah. Both are said to bioluminesce, a trait that was undoubtedly original to the pterosaur baramins and would explain the Biblical appellation of "fiery".[10]
Pterosaurs have also been reported in Africa -- where they go by the name Kongamato ("Overwhelmer of boats") throughout Central Africa, Sasabonsam in Ghana, and Olitiau in Cameroon and Nigeria -- and in the Americas, where Native Americans tell of large bird-like creatures with reptilian characteristics, including the Thunderbird of the Southwest and the Quetzalcoatl of Central America.
References
- ↑ Introduction to the Pterosauria. Accessed 13 May 2007.
- ↑ The Rhamphorhynchoid Pterosaur: A "Living Fossil" Until the 17th Century, John Goertzen, MS, 1998.
- ↑ The History of Herodotus, Book III, 107-110.
- ↑ The History of Herodotus, Book II, 75-76.
- ↑ History of Animals, Book I, Chapter V
- ↑ The Nature of the Gods, Book I, Section XXXVI
- ↑ Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, Chapter X: "How Moses Made War With The Ethiopians"
- ↑ Deuteronomy 8:15 and Numbers 21:6-9 recount Moses' battles with these pterosaur-like animals. They are also mentioned in Isaiah 14:29 and Isaiah 30:6.
- ↑ The Bible and Pterosaurs: Archaeological and Linguistic Studies of Jurassic Animals that Lived Recently, John Goertzen, MS, 1998.
- ↑ "Pterosaur-like Creatures Reported in Papua New Guinea", Free Republic, 20 July 2006.
