Photograph of the entire specimen of Petrodacyle. Credit: René Lauer
The animal had a 2-meter wingspan and a big bony crest on its head.
A group of scientists from Britain, America, and Germany recognized a 145-million-year-old pterosaur, a class of now-extinct flying reptiles that lived along with dinosaurs. The creature made the nickname Elvis upon its discovery in Bavaria, Germany, due to the large bony crest on its skull, reminiscent of a pompadour.
The name equates as Wellnhofers stone-finger honouring famous German paleontologist Peter Wellnhofer who invested his profession working on German pterosaurs. Petrodactyle is a member of a group of pterosaurs called the ctenochasmatids that were mainly small filter feeders.
Many pterosaurs are known with bony crests which they utilized mainly as sexual signals to other members of the species, but Pterodactyle has without a doubt the largest crest even seen in a ctenochasmatid. Dr. David Hone of Queen Mary University of London, the lead author on the study stated, “Big though this crest is, we know that these pterosaurs had actually skin-like extensions connected to it, so in life, Petrodactyle would have had an even bigger crest.”
The information of the specimen are particularly clear under UV light which helps reveal the difference in between the bones and the rock in which they are ingrained, which under natural light are a very similar color. René Lauer of the Lauer Foundation, an author on the research study stated, “The usage of UV Induced Fluorescence digital photography offered the ability to determine great structures small bones and provided additional information concerning the structures of the bony crest which aided in the interpretations and conclusions of this unique brand-new species.”
The petrodactyle was unusually big too. It has a wingspan of around 2 meters, but it was still an older teenager by pterosaur standards and would have been even bigger as a totally mature animal. Nevertheless, it is among the biggest pterosaurs understood from the Late Jurassic duration. Bruce Lauer of the Lauer Foundation, an author on the study stated “The specimen was situated in a quarry which is producing scientifically crucial fossils that supply additional insights into Late Jurassic Pterosaurs. This research study is a great example of the advantages of cooperation between amateur collectors, commercial fossil dealerships, our Foundation, and research scientists to advance science.”
Like other ctenochasmatids, Petrodactyle was at home on the coast of shallow seas however may have ventured into estuaries or to lakes. Its long jaw with many little teeth would have been good for grabbing at little fish, shrimp, and other marine victim. Unlike the majority of other ctenochasmatids, it had a growth at the back of the skull to connect big jaw muscles and give it a stronger bite than numerous of its contemporaries. Frederik Spindler of the Dinosaurier Museum in Germany, an author on the research study stated, “It is remarkable to document a progressively wide variety of adjustments. Pterosaurs were a fundamental part of the Jurassic ecology.”
Dr. Hone concluded, “Peter Wellnhofer is long past due for having a types of German pterosaur called after him to honor his lifelong contribution to the research study of these fantastic animals.”
The Lauer Foundation obtains, curates, and offers access to a collection of clinically crucial Paleontological specimens. The collection is readily available to the scientific community for research study, publication, exhibition, and instructional outreach.
Reference: “Petrodactyle wellnhoferi gen. et sp. nov.: A big and new ctenochasmatid pterosaur from the Late Jurassic of Germany” by David W. E. Hone, René Lauer, Bruce Lauer and Frederik Spindler, 15 June 2023, Palaeontologia Electronica.DOI: 10.26879/ 1251.
The name translates as Wellnhofers stone-finger honouring legendary German paleontologist Peter Wellnhofer who invested his profession working on German pterosaurs. Petrodactyle is a member of a group of pterosaurs called the ctenochasmatids that were primarily small filter feeders. It has a wingspan of around 2 meters, but it was still an older teen by pterosaur standards and would have been even larger as a completely mature animal. Even so, it is one of the largest pterosaurs understood from the Late Jurassic duration. Like other ctenochasmatids, Petrodactyle was at home on the coast of shallow seas but might have ventured into estuaries or to lakes.