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Newly Discovered Filter-Feeding Pterosaur Species Unveiled in Brazil

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Named Bakirib Waliza, this newly identified species is the first filter-feeding pterosaur documented to inhabit the tropics.

Artistic reconstruction of the filter-feeding pterosaur Bakirib Waliza in an Early Cretaceous Romualdo Formation environment. The spinosaurid dinosaur in the background represents a potential predator of Bakirib Waliza. Image credit: Julio Lacerda.

Bakirib Waliza thrived in the tropical latitudes of the Gondwana supercontinent during the Early Cretaceous, approximately 113 million years ago.

This ancient flying reptile belongs to the pterosaur group Pterosaurini, part of the clade Ctenochasmatidae.

“Ctenochasmatidae is a clade of pterosaurs that thrived from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous period,” stated Dr. Aline Ghirardi from the University Nordic of the Rio Grande and her colleagues.

“Recent findings have illuminated the diversity and ecological adaptations of this group, especially through analysis of new fossil specimens from various geographic areas and geological epochs.”

“These pterosaurs exhibit a remarkable evolutionary path, showcasing diverse morphological adaptations and extensive geographic distribution.”

“Recent revelations in China, South America, and Europe have significantly enhanced our understanding of their ecology, revealing the dynamic evolutionary history of this lineage.”

“Ctenochasmatids predominantly flourished from the Late Jurassic to the Barremian, but their numbers gradually waned towards the late Early Cretaceous,” the researchers noted.

“There remains limited knowledge about later species and how their lineages evolved and dispersed between Laurasia and Gondwana.”

The researchers suggested that Bakirib Waliza had an elongated jaw and dense, brush-like teeth, akin to the Ctenokasmatine pterosaurs like Pterodaustro, though the teeth’s cross-section and spacing differ significantly.

“Within the Ctenochasmatidae, the subfamily is recognized for its elongated snouts and numerous fine teeth, traits linked to a distinct feeding strategy,” the researchers stated.

“The evolutionary path of this group has been clarified by discoveries such as Riodactylus primus from the Late Jurassic of Liaoning Province, China, which indicates a significant ecological transition from fishing to filter-feeding within this clade.”

“Extreme examples can be noted in Pterodaustro ginazui, which features a lower jaw outfitted with 1,000 elongated, whisker-like teeth.”

“The extreme morphology of Pterodaustro illustrates a high degree of specialization for filter feeding.”

The two fossil specimens of Bakirib Waliza were uncovered in calcareous concretions within the Romualdo Formation in Brazil’s Araripe Basin.

This sedimentary matrix also contained remains of four fish, likely teleosts from the Early Cretaceous period, such as Thalias.

“Pterosaurs and fish were preserved in wackestone deposits, known for their abundant oriented ostracods and foraminifera, typical of other Romualdo Formation deposits,” the scientists remarked.

“The presence of densely packed, semi-articulated, fragmented pterosaur bones (mainly in subparallel orientation) alongside similarly arranged fish schools suggests that this collection is a regurgitalite—a mass of indigestible material expelled from a predator’s mouth.”

Bakirib Waliza possessed a mosaic of traits found in both its South American and European relatives.

“Its distinctive anatomical features, especially the highly elongated jaws and densely packed dentition with elongated teeth, tooth crowns that are nearly quadrangular in cross-section, along with acrodont-like tooth implants in both jaws, provide new insights into the evolutionary trajectory of filter-feeding pterosaurs,” the authors noted.

“The exceptional preservation of this specimen within the regurgitalite, alongside a fully intact fish, offers scarce direct evidence of trophic interactions in the Early Cretaceous Araripe paleoecosystem.”

“This finding not only bridges a paleobiogeographic gap in Ctenochasmatinae distribution but also emphasizes the significance of understudied and long-held museum specimens in uncovering important evolutionary and paleoecological insights.”

“Evidence is accumulating that the Araripe Basin acted as a crucial window into Early Cretaceous biodiversity, ecological intricacies, and continental-scale faunal interactions.”

The research team’s paper was published in the journal on November 10, 2025, in Scientific Reports.

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RV Pegas et al. 2025. Regurgitalites reveal a new filter-feeding pterosaur of the Santana group. Scientific Reports 15, 37336; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-22983-3

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Discovered Pterosaur Unearthed in Germany

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Paleontologists have identified a new genus and species of Gnathosaurine Pterosaur named Spathagnathus roeperi from a fossilized specimen discovered in the Solnhofen limestone of southern Germany.

Artistic reconstruction of Spathagnathus roeperi. Image credit: Alessio Ciaffi.

Spathagnathus roeperi lived in the Solnhofen Archipelago during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago.

“The Solnhofen limestone in southern Germany is renowned as one of the most productive fossil sites ever discovered,” states Dr. Alexandra Fernandez, a museum colleague and co-researcher at the Associate Historians Museum at the Statzmurung für Paläontologie und Geologie in Bayern.

“The regions and layers found between Solnhofen and Regensburg have been explored for over 200 years and have produced exceptional specimens, offering unique insights into the paleoenvironment of the subtropical shallow seas.”

“The rich paleobiotic diversity of fauna in the Solnhofen area is attributed to its original sedimentary environment, located in a depression within a shallow marine reef on the north coast of the Thetis Sea, which has been referred to in recent literature as the Solnhofen Archipelago fossil community.”

Fragments of Spathagnathus roeperi were uncovered during a systematic excavation at the Blanc Quarry near Regensburg, Germany.

“The Blanc area represents the oldest section of the Solnhofen complex, and only one Pterosaur has ever been documented from this region,” the paleontologist noted.

Based on their phylogenetic analysis, Spathagnathus roeperi is categorized within Gnathosaurinae, a small subgroup of the Pterosaur family Ctenochasmatidae.

This newly identified flying reptile is also a sister species to the ctenochasmatid pterosaur Tacuadactylus luciae from Uruguay.

“The limestone of Solnhofen is rich in late Jurassic fossil vertebrates, and Pterosaurs are no exception,” the researchers concluded.

“Within this extensive collection, while Ctenochasmatid remains are relatively abundant, Gnathosaurines are quite rare.”

Spathagnathus roeperi marks the earliest representation of Gnathosaurine and extends the paleoenvironmental stratigraphic range of Gnathosaurinae within the broader fossil community of the Solnhofen Islands.

“Additionally, this new species contributes to the known diversity of ctenochasmatids from the late Jurassic, emphasizing the significance of this early radiation within the pterosaur lineage during this period,” the scientists concluded.

Their paper was published this month in the journal Palz.

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AE Fernandez et al. A new species and early appearance of Gnathosaurinae (Pterosauria) from the late Kimmeridgian of Brun, Germany. Palz, published online on June 6th, 2025. doi:10.1007/s12542-025-00725-0

Source: www.sci.news

Research: Multiple Pterosaur Groups Became Global 160 Million Years Ago

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Pterosaurs often glide above dinosaurs, but recent analysis of fossilized footprints indicates that some of these flying reptiles were equally adept at traversing the ground.

Terrestrial migration and tracking morphology of vegetative eye type skeletal morphology: (a) Reconstruction of the ctenochasmatoid orbit Ctenochasma elegans walking with ipsilateral gait, where the fore and hind legs on the same side of the body move together. (b) Manual and pedal morphology of Ctenochasma elegans; PES is plant and pentadactyl, while Manus is digital grade, functionally triductyl as the large fourth digit supporting the outer wing is folded during terrestrial movement. (c) Height map of pterosaur manus and PES footprints in the holotype of Ichnotaxon Pteraichnus stokesi that matches Ctenochasma elegans; (d) height maps from the Pterosaur trackway; Pteraichnus ISP. From the Upper Jurassic Casal Formation of Claysac, France. An outline drawing of (e) interpretation Pteraichnus ISP. Scale bar – 20 mm in (c), 200 mm in (d) and (e). Image credit: Smith et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.017.

“We have been diligently working to enhance our understanding of their lives,” stated Robert Smith, a doctoral researcher at the University of Leicester.

“These footprints offer insights into their habitat, movement, behaviors, and activities in ecosystems long gone.”

In this study, Smith and colleagues uncovered three distinct types of pterosaur footprints, each elucidating various lifestyles and behaviors.

Tying these footprints to specific groups presents a valuable new avenue for exploring how these flying reptiles lived, migrated, and adapted over time across different ecosystems.

“At last, 88 years after the initial discovery of Pterosaur tracks, we understand precisely who made them and the methods employed,” remarked Dr. David Unwin, Ph.D., from Leicester.

The most striking finding emerged from a group of pterosaurs known as Neoazdalci. Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest flying creatures, boasts a wingspan of 10 meters.

Their footprints have been found in both coastal and inland regions worldwide, supporting the notion that these tall creatures not only ruled the skies but also cohabited the same environments as many dinosaur species.

Some of these tracks date back to an asteroid impact event 66 million years ago, alongside the extinction of both pterosaurs and dinosaurs.

Ctenochasmatoids, recognized for their elongated jaws and needle-like teeth, predominantly left tracks in coastal sediments.

These animals likely traversed muddy shores or shallow lagoons, employing specialized feeding techniques to capture small fish and floating prey.

The prevalence of these tracks indicates that these coastal pterosaurs were far more common in these habitats than the infrequent fossil remains suggest.

Another type of footprint was unearthed in rock formations, alongside the fossilized skeleton of the same pterosaur.

The close correlation between footprints and skeletons provides compelling evidence for identifying the print makers.

Known as Dsungaripterids, these pterosaurs featured robust limbs and jaws; the tips of their curved, toothless beaks were designed for grasping prey, while the large, rounded teeth at the rear of the jaw were ideal for crushing shellfish and other resilient foods.

“Footprints are frequently overlooked in Pterosaur studies, yet they yield a wealth of information regarding their behavior, interactions, and environmental relationships,” stated Smyth.

“A comprehensive analysis of the footprints enables us to uncover biological and ecological insights that cannot be obtained elsewhere.”

The team’s paper is published in the journal Current Biology.

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Robert S. Smith et al. Identifying Pterosaur track makers provides important insights into Mesozoic ground invasions. Current Biology Published online May 1, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.017

Source: www.sci.news

Argentina is home to the oldest newly discovered species of pterosaur

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A new genus and species of Monophenestratan pterosaur has been identified from partial and postcranial fossils discovered in the Chubut province of Patagonia, Argentina. named Mercamtel Pateco an ancient flying reptile that predates the currently oldest members of the Monophenestrata clade by at least 8 million and perhaps 10 million years.

rebuilding the life of Mercamtel Pateco. Image credit: Pedro Andrade.

Mercamtel Pateco They lived in what is now Argentina during the most recent Early Jurassic period, 184 to 174 million years ago.

The ancient species is a member of Monophenestrata a large clade of pterosaurs consisting of Darwinoptera, Anurognatidae, and Pterodactylidae.

“Pterosaurs were the first clade of actively flying tetrapods that achieved great success during the Mesozoic Era, achieving a worldwide distribution from the Triassic to the Cretaceous.” Dr. Alexandra Fernandes researchers from the Bavarian National Institute of Paleontology and Geology and colleagues in Germany and Argentina.

“Meanwhile, the pterosaur Bauplan transitioned from the basal non-monophenestratan ‘non-pterodactyloid’ body shape to a more derived pterodactyloid body shape. ”

“This evolutionary event has become better understood in recent years with the recognition of the Darwinoptera clade. Darwinoptera primarily exhibit a variety of morphological attributes during this transition and are considered to be “non-pterodactyl”. It has been considered to be an “intermediate” monofenid, combining the plesiomorphic features of “.” It has wing-like characteristics. ”

“Records of Mesozoic pterosaurs are abundant in the Northern Hemisphere, but records from the Southern Hemisphere are relatively sparse.”

“Although it is possible that Argentinians may be excluded, all carpNon-pterodactyl monophenestratan pterosaurs have so far been found only in the Northern Hemisphere, namely Britain, Germany, and China, and first appeared during the Batonian period (168 to 165 million years ago). ). ”

“The apparent success of these monofenid forms and their pterodactyl descendants replaced the Rhamphorhynchus body form (which disappeared in the early Cretaceous) and survived until extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.”

“However, there is still a lack of knowledge about monofenestral stratus in nonpterodonts, especially in terrestrial depositional environments.”

discovered by paleontologists Mercamtel PatecoThe fossilized remains of – a portion of the skull, two associated teeth, and some postcranial elements – are located at the Queso Lajad site in the Canadon Asphalt Formation.

They also found an isolated tooth of a ctenochasmatid pterosaur pterosaur at the same location.

“The Canadon Asphalt Formation is widespread in the north-central Chubut province of Argentina,” they said.

“This is part of the deposits of the Canadon Asphalt Basin, a large half-graben structure in central Patagonia that opened with the onset of the South Atlantic during the Early Jurassic.”

“The production area of ​​Queso Laryado is located approximately 5.5 km northwest of the village of Cerro Condor in the middle reaches of the Rio Chubut River.''

“The Fossil Formation is a 0.8 meter thick carbonate, partially silicified mudstone underlying the Canadon Asphalt Formation.”

According to the researchers, Mercamtel Pateco This marks the world's earliest appearance of a monophenestratan pterosaur, predating the current oldest member of this clade by at least 8 million and perhaps 10 million years.

This species is also the first and only non-pterodactyl monophenestratan to inhabit the supercontinent of Gondwana.

“Mercamtel Pateco “This is the most conclusive evidence to date for the existence of Monophenestrata in the Late Late Jurassic, and the novel traits expressed in this new species also contribute to morphological diversity.” The scientists concluded.

“Furthermore, if confirmed by future discoveries, the possible existence of Ctenochasmatidae, currently indicated by a single tooth, would not only place the origin of pterodactyls in the Early Jurassic, but also their early diversification. It may even indicate that it already happened in that era.”

“While our understanding of long-term pterosaur diversity and dispersal has traditionally been dominated by Northern Hemisphere Lagerstätten, high phylogenetic diversity of Early Jurassic pterosaurs also existed in Gondwana. It is now clear that the Canadon Asphalt Formation is the only one that now shows evidence for at least three different species. ”

“This further highlights that we still lack knowledge about the Jurassic pterosaur fauna of Gondwana, and while we await further field sampling and recovery of pterosaur fossils, the southern hemisphere probably someday It is clear that there is an inherent potential to match the abundance of the hemisphere. “

discovery of Mercamtel Pateco is reported in paper in a diary Royal Society Open Science.

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Alexandra E. Fernandez others. 2024. The oldest monophenestratan pterosaur from the Queso Rayado region (Toarcian, Canadon Asphalt Formation), Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina. R. Soc. Open Science 11(12):241238;doi: 10.1098/rsos.241238

Source: www.sci.news

Japanese researchers discover a new species of pterosaur

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Paleontologists have announced the discovery of a new species of Quetzalcotorin azhdarchopterosaur. Nippotherus mifunensis from the Late Cretaceous of Japan.

Restoration of life in the giant azhdarchid group, Quetzalcoatlus nothropi foraging in the Cretaceous fern steppe. Image credit: Mark Witton / Darren Naish.

Pterosaurs were highly successful flying reptiles (not dinosaurs, as is commonly misunderstood) that lived between 210 and 65 million years ago.

They were the first flying vertebrates on Earth, with birds and bats appearing much later.

Some pterosaurs, like the giant azhdarchids, were the largest flying animals in history, with wingspans exceeding 9 meters (30 feet) and a standing height comparable to modern giraffes.

“Pterosaurs, the earliest vertebrate group to achieve powered flight, exhibit remarkable morphological diversity, with a fossil record that spans from the Late Triassic to the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. '' said Dr. Naoki Ikegami of the Mifune Dinosaur Museum and Dr. Naoki Ikegami of the University of São Paulo. Rodrigo Pegas and his friends.

“The pterosaur skeleton's fragile air bones make its fossil record particularly irregular and uneven.”

“Most well-preserved, relatively complete archaeological sites are confined to a few Lagerstätten around the world. In contrast, most other deposits that yield pterosaurs are typically fragments. generate a typical sample.

“For one thing, there are very few records of pterosaurs in Japan, so every artifact has special significance.”

“The first pterosaur specimen discovered in Japan came from the Ezo Group in Hokkaido, and is representative of an indeterminate pterosaur species consisting of a femur, metatarsals, foot phalanges, and part of the caudal vertebrae. It is.”

6th cervical vertebra Nippoterus mifunensis. Image credit: Zhou others., doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.106046.

The newly identified species is Quetzalcoatrinae a subfamily of the pterosaur family Azhdarchidae.

“Azhdarchids represent a very special clade of pterosaurs, particularly notorious for containing some of the largest flying creatures in history, with wingspans of 10 to 11 meters (33 to 36 feet).” Quetzalcoatlus nothropi, aramburgiania philadelphia and Hatzegopteryx tanbema'' said the paleontologists.

“The azhdarchid clade, most prominently characterized by elongated cervical vertebrae with reduced neural spines, is widely distributed in Turonian to Maastrichtian pterosaur communities around the world.”

“They represent the most diverse and widespread group of pterosaurs during the Late Cretaceous.”

named Nippoterus mifunensis the new species lived in what is now Japan about 90 million years ago (late Cretaceous period).

“Nippoterus mifunensis “This is the first nominally Japanese pterosaur species,” the researchers said.

“This new species exhibits many Quetzalcoat line characteristics and bears a striking resemblance to the unnamed Burcant azhdarchid of Mongolia's Turonian-Coniacian.”

Part of the 6th cervical vertebra Nippotherus mifunensis It was produced from an outcrop of the Mifune Group near Amagi Dam in Mifune Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu.

“The specimen was found in a 30-centimeter (12-inch) thick layer of coarse lenticular sandstone, nestled between two tuff layers, in the middle of the upper formation of the Mifune Group,” the scientists said. said.

their paper Published in this month's magazine Cretaceous research.

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Zhou Xuanyu others. Re-evaluation of azhdarchoid pterosaur specimens from the Mifune Group, Late Cretaceous of Japan. Cretaceous researchpublished online on November 16, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.106046

Source: www.sci.news

Insights into large pterosaur flying capabilities revealed by new fossils found in Jordan

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Paleontologists have unearthed the fossils of two different large azhdarchoid pterosaurs. Inabatanin Arabia And previously known species Arambrugiana Philadelphia — Discovered in Upper Cretaceous deposits in Jordan, the fossils have led researchers to hypothesize that not only could the largest pterosaurs fly, but that they may have had a different style of flight.

Inabatanin Arabia (Top) Flying while flapping its wings Arambrugiana Philadelphia (Below) Soaring like a vulture. Image courtesy of Terrill Whitlatch.

Pterosaurs are an extinct group of flying reptiles that existed from the Late Triassic until the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.

They evolved powered flight about 50 million years before flight feathers appeared in the fossil record, and some achieved wingspans twice that of the largest flying birds (12 metres versus 6 metres).

“Our team was very surprised to find a three-dimensionally preserved pterosaur bone, which is a very rare occurrence,” said University of Michigan paleontologist Kerstin Rosenbach.

“Because pterosaur bones are hollow, they are extremely fragile and, if preserved, are likely to be found flat like a pancake.”

Dr. Rosenbach and his colleagues discovered two azhdarchoid pterosaur specimens in Jordan, one of which corresponds to a giant species. Arambrugiana Philadelphia (wingspan about 10 meters) and the second is a new, smaller species. Inabatanin Arabia (Wingspan approximately 5 meters).

They used high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans to analyze the internal structure of the wing bones.

“3D preservation is very rare, so we don’t have a lot of information about what the inside of a pterosaur bone looks like, so we wanted to do a CT scan,” Dr Rosenbach said.

“It’s entirely possible that nothing was preserved inside, or that the CT scanner was not sensitive enough to distinguish the fossil bone tissue from the surrounding matrix.”

“But fortunately, what we found was amazing, with exciting internal structures that were not only preserved but could be seen with a CT scanner.”

New specimens Arambrugiana Philadelphia Its wingspan was determined to be 10 metres, and the first details about the reptile’s skeletal structure were revealed.

CT scans revealed that the humerus is hollow inside, with a series of spiral ridges running up and down the bone, similar to the internal structure of a vulture’s wing bones.

The spiral ridges are thought to resist the torsional loads associated with soaring (sustained powered flight that requires flapping wings to launch and maintain).

The Inabutinin Arabian specimen is one of the most complete pterosaurs ever discovered in Afro-Arabia.

CT scans revealed that the structure of its flight bones is completely different from that of Arambourgiania philadelphiae.

The interior of the flight bone was crossed with an arrangement of struts that matched those seen in the wing bones of modern flapping birds.

This indicates that it was adapted to withstand the bending loads associated with flapping flight, and so it is likely that Inabatanin flew in this way, although it does not exclude the possibility that other flight styles may have been used from time to time.

” Inabatanin Arabia “It’s not uncommon, but it’s fun to see,” Dr. Rosenbach said.

” Arambrugiana Philadelphia It was totally unexpected and at first I had no idea what I was looking at.”

“Being able to see the entire 3D model, Arambrugiana PhiladelphiaI was really excited to see the spiral ridges on the humerus.”

The discovery of diverse flight styles among different sized pterosaurs is extremely exciting as it gives clues about how these animals lived.

It also raises intriguing questions, such as to what extent flight style correlates with body size and which flight style is more common among pterosaurs.

“We have very limited information about the internal structure of pterosaur bones over time, so it’s hard to say with any certainty which style of flight emerged first,” Dr Rosenbach said.

“If you look at other groups of flying vertebrates, birds and bats, you’ll find that wing flapping is by far the most common flight behavior.”

“Even soaring and gliding birds need some flapping to take to the air and continue flying.”

“This leads us to suggest that if flapping flight was the default state and was advantageous for a population of pterosaurs in a particular environment, in this case the open ocean, then soaring behaviour probably evolved later.”

a paper The paper on the survey results is Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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Kirsten L. Rosenbach othersNew pterosaur fossils from the Afro-Arabian Late Cretaceous provide insight into the flying capabilities of large pterosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate PaleontologyPublished online September 5, 2024; doi: 10.1080/02724634.2024.2385068

Source: www.sci.news

Incredible Pterosaur Fossils offer insights into their flight capabilities

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Smaller pterosaurs may have flapped their wings, while larger ones may have flown.

Terryl Whitlatch

Despite living hundreds of millions of years apart, pterosaurs may be more similar to modern birds than previously thought: the bone structure of these giant reptiles suggests that the largest used wings to fly, while smaller ones flapped their wings to achieve flight.

The discovery comes from a remarkably well-preserved pterosaur fossil unearthed in Jordan, where the mechanism of flight has left traces in the skeleton. Jeffrey Wilson Mantilla At the University of Michigan.

Pterosaurs began flying about 80 million years before birds and bats. During their 150 million year reign, from the Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period, they conquered every continent and evolved into a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Some were as small as a sparrow, while others had wingspans the size of a city bus. Analysis of pterosaur bones has revealed that different pterosaurs used different flight tactics to stay airborne.

Wilson-Mantilla and his team compared the fossils of two different pterosaur species and were delighted to discover that the 3D structure of the bones was still intact, which was a surprise because the hollow, brittle bones of pterosaurs would have easily broken down. Computed tomography scans revealed that the bones of the two reptile species were significantly different.

Large pterosaur, Arambrugiana Philadelphiahad spiral ridges running up and down the inside of their bones, similar to modern birds like eagles that fly with their wings fixed. Inabatanin Arabia The bird, a new species to science, had crossed struts that mimicked those of flapping birds.

The helical spiral helps resist twisting forces during ascent, and the crossed footings resist bending forces of the flaps. Wilson Mantilla.

Because the team found the fossils in what was once a coastal area, Mantilla thinks the soaring pterosaurs may have gained altitude by riding updrafts (currents of warm air rising from the ocean surface). He speculates that these pterosaurs could have also flapped their wings specifically to take to the air, making their soaring trait even more unusual.

The reason why one of these pterosaurs appeared to be flapping and the other was soaring raises new questions about how the more than 100 other known pterosaur species flew. Mantilla next wants to examine fossils from around the world to see if this pattern holds true. Perhaps, like modern birds, only the largest individuals of their species were able to soar.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Key gap in pterosaur evolution filled by fossil dating back 150 million years

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New genus and species of monophenestratan pterosaur named Propterodacillus frankellae It documents the transition from the older rhamphorhynchoid pterosaurs to pterodactyloids.

The holotype Propterodacillus frankellaeImage credit: Frederik Spindler, doi: 10.26879/1366.

Propterodacillus frankellae It lived about 150 million years ago, during the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic Period.

This flying reptile had a moderately long skull, about 9 centimetres (3.5 inches) long, and an estimated wingspan of about 55 centimetres (21.7 inches).

This species also had a very short tail and a small but functional fifth finger with two phalanges.

Propterodacillus frankellae a kind of Monophenestratan (Monofenestrata) is a large group of pterosaurs that includes the family Turconopteridae and the suborder Pterodactyloidea.

“As the earliest actively flying vertebrate lineage, pterosaurs were highly successful in evolution throughout the Mesozoic Era.” Dr. Frederick Spindler “The dinosaur museum's Altmühlthal writes in the new paper:

“For most of the long history of research, every specimen could be classified as belonging to one of two major types: the more ancestral long-tailed Rhamphorhynchioidea and the derived short-tailed Pterodactyloidea.”

“The rare anurognathids, the only short-faced pterosaurs, have similarly short tails but otherwise look like rhamphorhynchids and are therefore generally thought to have been deep-nesting rhamphorhynchids.”

“True intermediate, and therefore plausible transitional, forms between the major types were unknown until the discovery of the Curculionoptera.”

The fossil, named the Painten protterosaur, was discovered beneath the Rigol limestone quarry near Painten in Bavaria, Germany.

The specimen consists of a complete and fully articulated skeleton with soft tissue remaining in the radial fibrils of the torso and wings.

“Propterodacillus frankellae It is contemporary with the oldest Archaeopteryx “It came from a nearby basin,” the paleontologists wrote in their paper.

According to Dr Spindler, the discovery fills one of the largest knowledge gaps in the evolution of pterosaur morphology.

“Propterodacillus frankellae “It's a near-perfect mix of rhamphorhynchoid, curcunopteroid and derived pterodactyloid pterosaur features,” he said.

“Similarities with the derived Pterodactyloidea include the shape of the skull and the short tail.”

“For example, the ancestral traits shared with the Turconogopteridae family are Propterodactyl The most distinctive features of this pterosauroidea animal are its functional fifth toe and long caudal snout.”

“Intermediate conditions apply for neck extension, metacarpal extension, and shortening of the fifth toe.”

of paper Published online in the journal Palenitrogy Electronica.

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Frederick Spindler. 2024. Pterosaur articulation from the Late Jurassic of Germany. Palenitrogy Electronica 27(2):a35; doi:10.26879/1366

Source: www.sci.news

New species of pterosaur identified by Skye fossil discovery

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A new genus and species of pterosaur has been identified from fossils found at the site. Kilmalag Formation Originally from the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Reconstructed by artists Theoptera evansae. Image credit: Mark Witton / Natural History Museum, London.

Professor Paul Barrett of London's Natural History Museum and colleagues said: “The oldest known pterosaur fossils date from the late Triassic period, but the group persisted until extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.''

“Pterosaurs are known on every continent and experienced two major peaks in species richness during the Early-Middle Cretaceous and the Late Cretaceous.”

“However, that distribution is highly influenced by the 'Lagerstetten effect' and other forms of sampling bias.”

“Most of our knowledge about the evolutionary history of pterosaurs is based on material from a small number of archaeological sites with limited spatiotemporal extent.”

The newly discovered species lived in what is now Scotland between 168 and 166 million years ago (during the mid-Jurassic period).

named Theoptera evansaeIt was the first pterosaur named in Scotland and the most complete pterosaur discovered in Britain since its discovery by Mary Anning. Dimorphodon Macronix Early 1800s.

The remains of this flying reptile consist of a three-dimensionally preserved partial skeleton, including the shoulders, wings, legs, and part of the spine.

Many of the bones remain fully embedded in the rock and can only be studied using CT scans.

Theoptera evansae, almost as found (top) and with CT reconstruction using the elements (bottom). Image credit: Martin-Silverstone other.

“Theoptera evansae is part of the pterosaur clade Dalwinoptera'' said the paleontologists.

“The discovery shows that this clade is much more diverse than previously thought and persisted for more than 25 million years, from the Late Late Jurassic to the Late Jurassic.”

The discovery also shows that all of the major Jurassic pterosaurs evolved earlier than previously thought, well before the end of the Early Jurassic.

“Theoptera evansae “This helps narrow down the timing of some key events in the evolution of flying reptiles,” said Professor Barrett.

“Most of its relatives are from China, so its appearance in Britain during the mid-Jurassic period was a complete surprise.”

“This shows that the advanced group of flying reptiles to which it belongs appeared earlier than we thought and quickly acquired a near-global distribution.”

“During that period, Theoptera evansae This period is one of the most important in the evolution of pterosaurs, and it is also the period with the lowest number of specimens, demonstrating its importance,” said Dr Liz Martin-Silverstone, a palaeontologist at the University of Bristol. said.

“We found more bones embedded in the rock, some of which were essential to identifying the type of pterosaur.” Theoptera evansae This was an even better discovery than originally thought. ”

“This brings us one step closer to understanding when and where more advanced pterosaurs evolved.”

of the team paper will be published in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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elizabeth martin silverstone other. 2024. A new pterosaur and the diversification of early flying reptiles from the Middle Jurassic of Skye, Scotland. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontologyin press.

Source: www.sci.news

China finds new species of toothless pterosaur

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Chinese and Brazilian paleontologists identify new species of Chaoyangpteri pterosaurs from two specimens, one of which is the most complete and well-preserved Chaoyangpteri pterosaur ever recorded. It was announced that.

rebuilding the life of Meilifeilong Youhao. Image credit: Maurilio Oliveira.

This new species of pterosaur lived in what is now China during the Early Cretaceous period, between 125 and 113 million years ago.

Flying reptiles belong to Chamopteraa family of medium-sized and high-crowned pterosaurs known primarily from Asia.

dubbing Meilifeilong Youhaothis species was part of the Jehor biota, a terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem preserved within multilayered rock formations in northeastern China.

“Pterosaurs are an important and enigmatic group of flying reptiles of the Mesozoic Era that were among the first vertebrates to evolve active flight, and have filled every aerial environmental niche for almost 160 million years.” said Dr. Xiaolin Wang of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Academy of Sciences and its colleagues.

“Despite being a completely extinct group, they acquired a wide variety of morphologies during the period from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous.”

“Despite being found on every continent, China stands out by providing several new specimens that reveal not only different species, but also entire new clades, such as the azhdarchoid Chrysoptera.”

“This Cretaceous group of medium-sized and high-crowned pterosaurs is particularly well known from the Jehol biota. Chaoyangopterus zangi and Shenjoupterus chaoyangensis (At the time of description, the posterior region of the skull of Chaoyanptidae was the only one preserved, revealing that these toothless pterosaurs formed a new clade).

holotype of Meilifeilong Youhao; arrow indicates preserved soft tissue.Image credit: Wang other., doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-48076-7.

Two fossilized bodies Meilifeilong Youhao It was discovered in the Jiufutang Formation in Wuludao City, Liaoning Province, China.

“This holotype is particularly well preserved and represents an individual with a wingspan of up to approximately 2.16 meters (7.1 feet),” the paleontologists said.

“It consists of essentially all bones except for most of the tail, making it the most complete and well-preserved Chaoyanputid skeleton ever discovered.”

“The specimen mentioned consists only of the premaxilla and maxilla and anterior part of the palate and represents a smaller individual.”

size Meilifeilong Youhao basically the same as Meilifeiron Sanyainus (with a wingspan of 2.18 meters, or 7.2 feet), which, along with other characteristics, suggests that they represent different species of the same genus.

“This new species provides some new information about these rather enigmatic flying reptiles. palatal area” said the researchers.

“Additionally, it shows a stapes preserved in place, a rare phenomenon among pterosaurs.”

team’s paper Published in the Journal on December 21, 2023 scientific report.

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X-One other. 2023. A new toothless pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol biota. With comments on Chaoyoptera. science officer 13, 22642; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-48076-7

Source: www.sci.news