A new filter-feeding pterosaur species, Bakiribu waridza, has been discovered in the Santana Group of Northeast Brazil, representing the first archaeopterodactyloid from this formation and providing insights into the evolution and paleobiogeography of ctenochasmatids in Gondwana. The specimen, preserved as a regurgitalite, exhibits unique dental features, including dense, elongated, and subquadrangular teeth, and suggests a complex trophic interaction involving likely predation by spinosaurid dinosaurs.
Scientists have discovered a new species of flying reptile, Eotephradactylus mcintireae, based on a jawbone found in Arizona, dating back over 200 million years. The fossil, preserved in volcanic ash, provides insights into the ecosystem of the Triassic period, revealing a diverse environment with extinct and modern animals coexisting, and suggests the pterosaur fed on armored fish.
A fossil scan of a Jurassic pterosaur excavated in Oxfordshire reveals a vast wingspan of 3.75 meters, making it one of the largest known pterosaurs from that period. This discovery, detailed in the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, suggests that Jurassic pterosaurs could grow larger than previously thought. The fossil is now housed in the Etches Collection in Dorset.
Scientists have discovered the remains of a winged dinosaur, Ceoptera evansae, on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, dating back 166 to 168 million years to the Middle Jurassic period. The incomplete fossil was first found in 2006 and has since been digitally prepared, shedding light on the evolution and diversity of pterosaurs. This discovery challenges previous understanding of the species' timeline and suggests that advanced flying reptiles appeared earlier and had a wider distribution than previously thought, providing valuable insights into the evolution of pterosaurs.
A unique species of flying reptile, or pterosaur, called Ceoptera, has been discovered on the Isle of Skye, dating back 168-166 million years. Its wings, shoulders, legs, and backbone were found, but the skull was missing. This finding is significant as fossils from this era, known as the Middle Jurassic, are extremely rare. The discovery suggests that pterosaurs were common animals in Scotland during this time, ruling the skies before the existence of birds. The research, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, sheds light on the evolutionary history of these ancient flying reptiles.
