Large ‘tail vanes’ enabled pterosaurs to take to the air, scientists announce

Pterosaurs were able to fly thanks to a sail-like vane at the end of their long tails, scientists have discovered (Natalia J/PA) -

Pterosaurs were able to fly thanks to large sail-like “vanes” at the ends of their tails, palaeontologists have discovered.

Researchers have long puzzled over how the winged reptiles – the first and largest vertebrates to achieve powered flight – were able to take to the air.