Rhamphorhynchus muensteri

Jurassic pterosaur Rhamphorhynchus had a long tail, with a stiff flap of skin called a vane at the end that stabilized flight. Some scientists think this membrane faced sideways, like a fish tail, and helped prevent rocking from side to side. Others think it lay flat, like a paddle, and helped the flying pterosaur control its elevation. This species is one of the most widely studied pterosaurs and is represented by more than 100 fossils.