TPO47 Pterosaurs were an ancient group of winged reptiles that lived alongside the dinosaurs Many pterosaurs were very large some as large as a giraffe and with a wingspan of over 12 meters Paleontologists have long wondered whether large pterosaurs were

The writer and the professor have a debate on whether pterosaurs can achieve powered flight. The writer proposes that they are not capable of powered flight because they are cold blooded, heavy and have small muscle to take off. The professor, however, contradicts this opinion due to the following reasons.

First, the writer holds that pteroasurs, similar to most modern reptiles, are cold-blooded, and thus impossible to produce energy. On the contrary, the professor thinks that this opintion doesn't hold water because pteroasurs may have some way to keep warm. In detail, some reptiles have some special hairs to keep the body warm. As a result, if pteroasurs are the same kind of animals, they are also able to generate the energy to fly like the warm-blooded birds.

Second, as opposed to the writer's statement that pterosaurs are too heavy to flap wings and fly, the professor contends that pterosaurs have some special features which can make them possible to flap their wings fast enough. In accordance with the professor, pterosaurs' bones are hollow, and thus these bones are lightwight than what it looks like. Therefore, the weight of pterosaurs's weights are low enough to enable them flapping wings and fly.

Third, the writer believes that pterosaurs' leg muscles are not strong enough so it is arduous for them to run in a high speed and take off. The professor admits that birds indeed need strong leg to jump and take off. But the professor argues that pterosaurs have four legs to utilize during take off. To be more specific, unlike birds who are only capable of using two legs to run on the ground, pterosaurs have the competence to use all their four legs during taking off. As a result, it is feasible for them to run considerably fast and jump high without effort.