Eotephradactylus mcintireae existed alongside other evolutionarily new life forms, including turtles, as well as older groups of animals such as giant amphibians and armoured crocodiles.
Scientists have found the oldest pterosaur ever discovered in North America, which they have named the “ash-winged goddess of the dawn.”
The 209-million-year-old pterosaur was among more than 1,000 Triassic fossils recovered from layers in Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park. Eotephradactylus mcintireae is named in part for the volcanic ash found in the fossil layer and Eos, the Greek goddess of dawn, since it evolved around the dawn of pterosaur evolutionary history.
Pterosaurs, informally called “pterodactyls,” were flying reptiles that ruled the skies during the Age of Dinosaurs. The group produced many giants, some with wingspans of nearly 36 feet (11 meters), but E. mcintireae and other early representatives were considerably smaller in comparison.
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Sourse: www.livescience.com
