Researchers have found a 163-million year old fossil of a Pterodactyl in northwest China, providing evidence that these species existed earlier than previously thought.
The fossil is believed to be from a pterodactyl species dubbed Kryptodrakon progenitor, which means "ancient hidden serpent." The researchers gave it this name since the fossils were located near the area where the martial arts movie, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was recorded. It was found by Chris Sloan, formerly of National Geographic and now president of Science Visualization, in 2001 on a mudstone below an ash bed in the Shishugou Formation in Xianjiang, China.
"This finding represents the earliest and most primitive pterodactyloid pterosaur, a flying reptile in a highly specialized group that includes the largest flying organisms," said Chris Liu, lead author of the study and program director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences, in a press release.
The fossils were able to give researchers some clues to map out the origin of the winged lizard and its evolution history. The scientists were not able to gather data about its diet since there were no bones and teeth among the discovered fossil fragments.
Based on the measurements, the creature had a wingspan of 4.5 feet and may have lived in terrestrial surroundings. It also favored the dry climate of northwest China. Paleontologist Brian Andres of the University of South Florida and the study's co-author claimed that there was flood in the area during the existence of the pterosaur that forced it to develop wider wings so that it can better navigate land areas.
Pterodactyloids are classified into a group called the pterosaurs, which are considered as relative of the dinosaurs. These creatures became extinct about 66 million years ago. The researchers were able to identify the fossil fragments as that of a pterodactyloid due to the bone in its palm which was used for flying and walking.
"He (Kryptodrakon progenitor) fills in a very important gap in the history of pterosaurs," Andres said in a press release. "With him, they could walk and fly in whole new ways."
Further details of the study can be read on the April 24 issue of Current Biology.
