Comparison of Screamer and Rhamphorhynchus: top 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. The top of the skull cutaway displaying details of the internal anatomy of the endocranial cavity and braincase wall. 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 approximately9.6 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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