Why Pterosaurs Were the Weirdest Wonders on Wings - 1

Dubbed Dark Wing, this exquisitely preserved Rhamphorhynchus pterosaur was buried in the sediments of an ancient lagoon in what is now Germany, protecting the delicate structure of its wing. Normally only bones and teeth survive the fossilization process.

Seen under ultraviolet light, Dark Wing provides researchers with an illuminating view of a pterosaur wing. The layers of skin are threaded with blood vessels, muscles, and long fibers that stiffen the wing in much the same way that the thin metal frame of an umbrella supports the fabric.