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Rise of the Archosaurs: Lagerpetids to Pterosaurs
Chidumebi Ikechi Njoku-Browne
Popular
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(823)
In this ongoing class students will learn about various species on the pterosaur family tree.
Class experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Beginner - Intermediate Level
Students will be learning about Pterosaurs, their structure, their genera and their evolution. Each week will cover a different Pterosaur family, whether at the beginning with the hopping Lagerpetids, or the giants of the Cretaceous period. Further topics will go over Pterosaur body structure, locomotion, respiratory function, walking gait etc. My class will be structured along the Pterosaur family tree. However, since the class is ongoing, when this class reaches the end of the line, it...
Students will learn about the various members of the Pterosaur family. They will learn anatomical terms (ex. pycnofibres, the fuzzy feather like feature that keeps them warm) and features (ex. how they are able to fold their wings and how they take off from the ground). They will learn how pterosaurs evolved, when they evolved and the sheer diversity of the family tree.
I was trained in Paleontology under Phil Currie at the University of Alberta. I have gone on fossil digs in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming with paleontologist Paul Sereno. I have also been mentored by Paleontologist Thomas Holtz. I have also been an educator at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum since 2019.
As this involves nature, hunting techniques will be discussed, including how some of these pterosaurs killed their prey. I must warn that some documentary clips will show Pterosaurs killing their prey.
All art used is done with the consent and knowledge of the artists involved. Some of the artwork used was commissioned specifically for this class. For those who wish for easy access for some of my source material listed below are good literature I have used: “26. the rise and fall of the pterosaur empire.” Pterosaurs, 2013, pp. 259–264, https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400847655.259. “3. pterosaur beginnings.” Pterosaurs, 2013, pp. 12–22, https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400847655.12. “4.The pterosaur skeleton.” Pterosaurs, 2013, pp. 23–38, https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400847655.23. BUCHMANN, RICHARD, and TAISSA RODRIGUES. “The evolution of pneumatic foramina in pterosaur vertebrae.” Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, vol. 91, no. suppl 2, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201920180782. D’Alba, Liliana. “Pterosaur plumage.” Nature Ecology & Evolution, vol. 3, no. 1, 2018, pp. 12–13, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0767-0. Hyder, Elaine. “Evolution of the pterosaur pelvis.” Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 2012, https://doi.org/10.4202/app.2011.1109. Schaller, Dietrich. The Superordinate Pterosaur Evolution as Deduced from the Evolution of Their Wings. F. Pfeil, 2007. Witton, M. P. Pterosaurs: Natural History, Evolution, Anatomy. Princeton University Press, 2013.
Popular
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(823)
1)I teach Classical Western Civilization History. Pre-colonial West African history with more specifics on pre-colonial Nigerian history and mythology. I also teach prehistory. 2)I am a volunteer at the Natural History Museum. A tax professional,...
Group Class
$12
weekly1x per week
35 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
3-6 learners per class
