Paleontologists working in southern Brazil haven't just found one fossilized skeleton of a new type of prehistoric flying reptile -- they've found nearly 50 of them. The discovery of so many of the newly discovered creatures from the dinosaur-era, all in the same location, is being heralded in a new study as "an unprecedented discovery" and the best evidence that the family of creatures known as pterosaurs may have lived in colonies.
This particular new pterosaur, named Caiuajara dobruskii, lived between 66 and 100 million years ago during the Creataceous period in what was once a desert lake. With a wingspan of 7.7 feet and a large, bony crest atop its head, the creature definitely sets itself apart from others in the pterosaur family. If you are wondering where the creature gets its name, it comes from Alexandre and João Dobruski, a local father and son who discovered the boneyard in 1971 after noticing bones poking up from the ground. Though it was discovered nearly 40 years ago, researchers are just now in the last several years investigating the site.
It isn't exactly clear what could have kill the 47 discovered creatures, but study author Alexander Kellner says it is possible a desert storm or draught killed the large group of pterosaurs. So many of the creatures in the same place seem to point towards Caiuajara dobruskii living in colonies or large groups, similar to modern day flamingos. One expert says the creatures could have possibly migrated to the desert lake together to escape an otherwise dry landscape. The find is unusual, as most pterosaur remains are typically found near what were at one time oceans or lagoons.
"To be honest with you, when they first told me they had pterosaur bones, I was going, 'Yeah, sure,'" Kellner told National Geographic. Once he confirmed that the bones were in fact from pterosaurs, excitement took over.
"To find part of what could be part of a [pterosaur] population is really splendid," he said.
With 47 fossilized skeletons to choose from, researchers can also get a better understanding pterosaur development. Many of the animals are in varying stages of development, ranging from juveniles to adults. The study suggests that juevinile Caiuajara dobruskii's were nearly identical, albeit smaller, than their adult counterparts, leading another expert to believe that the creatures could possibly fly from birth and as a result be less dependent on their parents for food.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
