Studies on "Nyctosaurus" anatomy have concluded that the first, second and third metacarpals of have lost contact with the carpus, similar to pteranodontids, but unlike them, "Nyctosaurus", and possibly other nyctosaurids, had also lost the corresponding digits except the "flight" digit. As a result, it was likely to have impaired its movement on the ground, leading scientists to conjecture that it spent almost all of its time on the wing and rarely landed. In particular, the lack of claws with which to grip surfaces would have made climbing or clinging to cliffs and tree trunks impossible for "Nyctosaurus".