Brain of first flying reptile’s ancestor rebuilt to work out how they took flight

Paleontologist Lísie V. S. Damke holding an enlarged model of the brain of Venetoraptor gassenae. (Rodrigo Temp Müller via SWNS)

By Stephen Beech

The brain of a 233-million-year-old ancestor of the first flying reptiles has been reconstructed in a bid to work out how they took flight.

Brain of first flying reptile’s ancestor rebuilt to work out how they took flight

Artistic reconstruction of Venetoraptor gassenae showing the 3D model of its brain. (Caio Fantini via SWNS)

Brain of first flying reptile’s ancestor rebuilt to work out how they took flight

Skeleton of Venetoraptor gassenae and an enlarged 3D-printed model of its brain. (Rodrigo Temp Müller via SWNS)

Brain of first flying reptile’s ancestor rebuilt to work out how they took flight

Paleontologist Lísie V. S. Damke examining the braincase of the Venetoraptor gassenae fossil. (Rodrigo Temp Müller via SWNS)

Originally published on talker.news, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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