Question

the cretaceous pterosaur tupandactylus navigans is known for having an anomalously oversized head crest. until an almost complete fossil skeleton was found in brazil, paleontologists had been able to study only skull specimens from t. navigans, though it was presumed that, like other pterosaurs, the speciess primary form of locomotion was powered flight. examining the fuller skeleton in 2016, victor beccari and his team determined that t. navigans had long hind legs, short wings, and an unusually long neck—characteristics that, combined with the creatures large - crested head, would have made sustained flight difficult and walking upright relatively comfortable. based on these findings the team suggests that t. navigans likely ______ which choice most logically completes the text? a) flew for longer distances than did other pterosaur species that had oversized head crests. b) had longer wings than other pterosaur species considered to have been comfortable walking. c) had a smaller head than researchers expected based on the earlier t. navigans skull specimens. d) flew for shorter distances and spent more time walking than researchers previously thought.

Explanation:

The text states that T. navigans had long hind - legs, short wings, and an unusually long neck, which made sustained flight difficult and walking upright relatively comfortable. This means it likely flew less and walked more than previously thought as before only skull specimens were studied and powered flight was presumed.

Answer:

D. flew for shorter distances and spent more time walking than researchers previously thought.