Opisthoptera (lit. "rear wings") are a clade of Elastospondyli, and the first animals to develop powered flight on the planet.
Description[]
Opisthopterans first appeared around 4222 ma, following the depletion of atmospheric carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Evolving from a branch of Elastospondyli, the Opisthoptera are the first clade of animals to develop flight on the planet. During the evolutionary process, Opisthopterans have developed a greater internal support system, active respiration, and localized endothermy (in their case, at the base of their wing membranes), ensuring they can function even in lower temperatures.
Opisthopterans have two pairs of wings, each of which consist of a patagium stretched between two pairs of limbs. The thrust used for flying is generated with the larger, rear wings. The front pair of wings act as canards, used both for increasing the size of the effective wing surface and for adjusting flight performance. With the exception of the nectarivorous Picoptera, Opisthopterans tend to be carnivorous.
For over 60 million years, Opisthoptera was the only clade of flying animals on the planet. As such, it is a highly diverse and well-established clade, to such a degree that when Plueropterans evolved, they were forced into highly specialized niches that the Opisthopterans were ill suited for. Opisthopterans are known to have representatives in the majority of terrestrial biomes (the only biome not explicitly stated to host Opisthopterans is the tundra).
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