简介:Thecross-sectionandsurfacestructuresofwingmembranesfromthectenochasmatidpterosaurBeipiaopteruschenianuswereobservedthroughascanningelectronmicroscope(SEM).Theresultsshowthatthewingmembranecontainsahighdensityofbloodvessels,implyingstrongthermoregulatoryfunction,similartothatofabatwingmembrane.Thisisthefirstcomparisonofthemicrostructuresofpterosaurwingmembraneswiththoseofthemodernbat.Itisinferredthatabat-likephysiologyexists,atleastinrelativelysmallpterosaurssuggestingthatthesepterosaurswerewarm-blooded,activefliers.