Comparison of Screamer and Rhamphorhynchus: side view cutaway (3D recon)

A 3D reconstruction of the modern Screamer Chauna chavaria, a cousin to ducks and geese, compared to Rhamphorhynchus, a Jurassic pterosaur. In these skulls, the side is cutaway to display details of the internal anatomy of the braincase. Pterosaurs show convergences on birds and mammals, in that the brain is large. The skull of Rhamphorhynchus shows a large cerebrum and cerebellum - for good sensory-muscular integration. Birds also have a large cerebrum and cerebellum, but in a very different configuration than that shown in Rhamphorhynchus. Screamer is approximately 9 cm long; Rhamphorhynchus is approximately 9.6 cm long. (Screamer courtesy of Mr. Dave Dufeau, University of Texas at Austin, Rhamphorhynchus courtesy of Dr. Sankar Chatterjee, Texas Tech University)

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