The first pterosaur to be scientifically identified was Pterodactylus, more than 200 years ago. Since then, scientists have grappled with understanding these bizarre and fantastic animals, aided by inspired science and incredible discoveries. In this episode, we’ll discuss what we know – and what we don’t know – about how these animals evolved, survived, and ruled the skies in the Age of Reptiles.
In the news: cassowary evolution, the oldest scorpions, sea floor taphonomy, and Neanderthal shells.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:08:30
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:38:30
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:22:00
Patron question: 02:10:00
We’ve donated our December 2019 Patreon earnings to WIRES to help with wildlife recovery in Australia. Learn more here: https://www.wires.org.au/
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http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
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The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Episode 139 - Vultures
Episode 138 - The Moon
Episode 137 - Fossilization
Episode 136 - Seahorses
Patron Mini-Episode Compilation #2
Episode 135 - Seeds
The Art of Common Descent with Rob Soto
Episode 134 – Sanguivores (Blood-Eaters)
Episode 133 - Symbiosis
Episode 132 - Mary and Louis Leakey
Episode 131 - Volcanoes
Episode 130 - Sense of Smell
End of the Year Q&A 2021
Episode 129 - Rhinos
Episode 128 - The Deep Sea
Silver Screen Science – Prologue, Jurassic World: Dominion
Episode 127 - The Hell Creek Formation
Episode 126 - Mimicry
Episode 125 - Orchids
Spook-E - Triffids
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