Fossils show that two baby pterodactyls died during a violent storm. (Image credit: Artwork by Rudolf Hima)
A stunning fossil find has revealed that they were two baby pterosaurs that were knocked out of flight during a 'catastrophic' tropical storm 150 million years ago.
Researchers have autopsied two Jurassic pterosaur skeletons from Germany and concluded that strong winds likely drove the flying reptiles into a lagoon, where they drowned under storm waves.
Pterosaurs, informally called “pterodactyls,” ruled the skies during the age of dinosaurs. Fossilized skeletons documented in a new study belonged to the first pterosaur species ever discovered, Pterodactylus antiquus, which gave the species its “pterodactyl” nickname.
You may like
-
The 'most remarkable' Jurassic sea monster fossil from Germany belongs to a previously unknown species.
-
Bite marks suggest that the giant terror birds may have been potential prey for another predator – the giant caiman.
-
Night lizards survived an asteroid collision that could have wiped out the dinosaurs, despite living right next to the impact site.
The hatchlings are two of the smallest P. antiquus specimens ever discovered, with a wingspan of about 20 centimeters (8 inches), about the size of a small bat. An analysis of the fossils by the researchers, published Sept. 5 in the journal Current Biology, suggests that they were likely two of many baby pterosaurs that were killed in the region by massive storms. The adult P. antiquus had an estimated wingspan of about 1.1 meters (3.3 feet), meaning it likely had a better chance of withstanding the winds that killed the hatchlings.
The baby pterosaurs were nicknamed “Lucky” and “Lucky II,” according to the researchers. While they may have been unlucky to have perished in the storm, scientists were lucky to have found their delicate and fragile skeletons.
“Pterosaurs had incredibly light skeletons,” said lead author Rab Smith, who conducted the research as part of his PhD at the University of Leicester in the UK, in a statement. “The hollow, thin-walled bones are ideal for flight, but they are difficult to fossilise. The chances of preserving one are already slim, and finding a fossil that tells us how the animal died is even harder.”
The pterosaurs were preserved in the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Formation, a sheet-like limestone formation that is about 153 to 148 million years old and located in Bavaria, southern Germany. According to the study, paleontologists have discovered hundreds of pterosaurs in the formation, which was once a semi-tropical seascape with coral reefs and small islands.
Solnhofen fossils often represent well-preserved juvenile pterosaurs, while larger adults are rarer and tend to be fragmented. This is unusual, given that larger, more robust bones often have a better chance of being preserved in the environment and becoming fossils.
Researchers have created a diagram illustrating how storms contributed to the amazing preservation of young pterosaur fossils.
Study co-author David Unwin, a palaeontologist at the University of Leicester, said the team was excited when Smith came across Lucky at the Berger Museum in Harthof, but thought it was a one-off. Then, a year later, Smith came across Lucky II, which is now on display at the Burgomaster Müller Museum in Solnhofen but is owned by the Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology and Geology in Munich. The researchers examined the fossil with a fluorescent ultraviolet light and found that Lucky II had suffered a noticeable fracture to its forelimb (part of the wing) before it died.
You may like
-
The 'most remarkable' Jurassic sea monster fossil from Germany belongs to a previously unknown species.
-
Bite marks suggest that the giant terror birds may have been potential prey for another predator – the giant caiman.
-
Night lizards survived an asteroid collision that could have wiped out the dinosaurs, despite living right next to the impact site.
“He literally jumped out of the cliff and onto us – and our hearts sank,” Unwin said in a statement. “None of us will ever forget that moment.”
RELATED STORIES
— Giant pterosaurs not only could fly, but could also walk among dinosaurs.
—“So weird”: An ankylosaurus with 90-centimeter spikes protruding from its neck has been discovered in Morocco.
—115 million year old dinosaur footprints discovered in Texas after devastating floods.
Lucky and Lucky II had fractured humeri, consistent with evidence of extreme wind force during flight, similar to what birds and bats experience during strong storms today. The researchers believe that strong gusts of wind swept the young pterosaurs away from the safety of the shore and sent them rolling into the lagoon. According to the study, storm currents quickly carried them into the deep waters, where their bodies became entombed in sediment.
After studying the two baby pterosaurs, as well as data collected from more than 40 other Pterodactylus individuals, the team concluded that Solnhofen was home to so many small pterosaurs due to catastrophic mass mortality events like these storms that larger individuals would not have been able to withstand them.
“For centuries, scientists thought that small pterosaurs dominated the Solnhofen Lagoon ecosystems,” Smith said. “But we now know that this view is deeply biased. Many of these pterosaurs were not native to the lagoon at all. Most were inexperienced juveniles, likely living on nearby islands and unfortunately caught in strong storms.”
Patrick Pester, Social Links Navigator, Popular News Writer
Patrick Pester is a popular news writer for Live Science. His work has appeared on other science sites such as BBC Science Focus and Scientific American. Patrick transitioned to journalism after working for zoos and wildlife conservation organisations earlier in his career. He received a Master's Excellence Scholarship to study at Cardiff University, where he completed an MA in International Journalism. He also completed a second MA in Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation in Action at Middlesex University in London. When he's not writing news, Patrick is an investigator into the sale of human remains.
You must verify your public display name before commenting.
Please log out and log back in. You will then be prompted to enter a display name.
Exit Read more
The 'most remarkable' Jurassic sea monster fossil from Germany belongs to a previously unknown species.
Bite marks suggest that the giant terror birds may have been potential prey for another predator – the giant caiman.
Night lizards survived an asteroid collision that could have wiped out the dinosaurs, despite living right next to the impact site.
Mysterious 'runner' dinosaur is a sign that the western US is hiding undiscovered Jurassic secrets
Tyrannosaurus rex relatives 'walked the moon' to attract females, new dinosaur 'mating arena' suggests
'Statistically this shouldn't have happened': Something very strange happened in the ocean after the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.
Latest Dinosaur News
'So weird': Ankylosaurus with 90cm spikes sticking out of its neck discovered in Morocco
115-million-year-old dinosaur footprints discovered in Texas after devastating floods
Tyrannosaurus rex relatives 'walked the moon' to attract females, new dinosaur 'mating arena' suggests
The “Ash-Winged Dawn Goddess” is the oldest pterosaur ever discovered in North America. It was so small it could fit on your shoulder.
“Imagining How I'd React If I Seeed a Real Giant Dinosaur”: What the Scientific Advisor of Jurassic World: Resurgence Thinks About the Film
Mysterious 'runner' dinosaur is a sign that the western US is hiding undiscovered Jurassic secrets
Latest news
Acne drug Accutane may restore sperm production in infertile men, first study suggests
Stunning new photos show interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS may be turning bright green
A 'new' island has emerged from melting ice in Alaska
Breakthrough in electronics means our devices may one day stop generating heat, scientists say
'Incredibly exciting': NASA claims to have found 'clearest sign' of past life on Mars
Scientists have discovered that baby pterosaurs died during a powerful Jurassic storm 150 million years ago.
LATEST ARTICLES
1Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS May Be Bright Green, Amazing New Photos Show
Live Science is part of Future US Inc., an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate website.
- About Us
- Contact Future experts
- Terms and Conditions
- Privacy Policy
- Cookie Policy
- Accessibility Statement
- Advertise with us
- Web Notifications
- Career
- Editorial Standards
- How to present history to us
© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.
var dfp_config = { “site_platform”: “vanilla”, “keywords”: “type-news-trending,serversidehawk,videoarticle,van-enable-adviser-
Sourse: www.livescience.com
