The Fascinating History of Pterosaurs in Australia: Discovering 107 Million-Year-Old Fossils

Key Highlights :

1. Researchers have confirmed the discovery of the oldest known juvenile pterosaur in Australia.

2. The bones are believed to be 107 million years old.

3. The pterosaurs lived in polar regions and would have endured "sensationally harsh conditions."

4. Previous pterosaur skin discoveries only included melanosomes with the same shapes, meaning they either had the same color or were given varying hues through other chemicals in their skin.

5. The "opposed thumb is likely to have been an adaptation for that."

6. The study revealed that pterosaurs lived in trees.

7. Some scientists were not impressed with the paper's finding.

     Pterosaurs are one of the most iconic creatures of the dinosaur age. While they are not technically dinosaurs, they are closely related to birds and other dinosaurs, and their discovery is always exciting for science lovers. Recently, researchers from Australia have confirmed the discovery of the oldest set of pterosaur bones known to the fossil record, which are estimated to be 107 million years old.

     The lead researcher, Adele Pentland, a PhD student at Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, told SciTechDaily that Australia was much farther south during the Cretaceous Period (145-66 million years ago) than it is presently, and the pterosaurs discovered in present-day Victoria would have lived within the polar circle. They would have endured "sensationally harsh conditions," surviving for weeks on end in frigid darkness.

     In addition to the adult pterosaur bones, the researchers were also able to confirm the discovery of the first ever juvenile pterosaur in Australia. This provides researchers with a better understanding of where pterosaurs lived and how big they were.

     The discovery of these pterosaur fossils is remarkable, as they are extremely rare and difficult to find. It is also possible that the pterosaurs may have migrated north during the winter months to breed, or they may have adapted to the polar conditions. Finding the answer to this question will help researchers better understand these mysterious flying reptiles.

     In recent years, other notable pterosaur discoveries have been made. In 2022, a study in the journal Nature revealed that a pterosaur known as Tupandactylus imperator had microscopic structures in its skin known as melanosomes. This was the first confirmation that pterosaurs had multiple colors in their skin.

     In 2021, a study in the scientific journal "Current Biology" revealed the existence of a so-called "monkeydactyl" — a pterosaur with the equivalent of opposable thumbs. This finding confirmed that pterosaurs lived in trees and could use their thumbs to grasp branches and other objects.

     Also in 2021, a study in the scientific journal iScience shed light on an enigma that had long plagued paleontologists: How could pterosaurs swoop down and scoop up large prey without breaking their necks? The study revealed that pterosaurs had spoke-like bones in their necks organized helically, like the spokes on a bicycle wheel. This allowed them to carry heavier prey than was previously thought.

     The discovery of these 107 million-year-old pterosaur fossils in Australia is a remarkable one, and it is sure to provide researchers with a better understanding of these mysterious flying reptiles. With each new discovery, we learn more about the fascinating history of pterosaurs and their role in the prehistoric world.

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