General
Pterosaurs evolved from small, wingless reptiles called lagerpetids, fossils suggest
Pterosaurs may have dominated the skies for 150 million years, but how they gained their wings has been a mystery.
Key points:
- Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight, and lived during the age of the dinosaurs
- How flight evolved in pterosaurs has been unknown, largely due to meagre fossil record
- New research suggests two-legged, wingless reptiles called lagerpetids were pterosaur ancestors
Now, recently unearthed fossils may help fill a gap in the flying predators’ family tree, according to a study published in Nature today.
The skulls and skeletons are of a group of ancient reptiles — lagerpetids — that trotted around the supercontinent Pangea between 237 and 210 million years ago.
These two-legged, wingless…
-
General22 hours agoShark attack at Tathra Beach leaves 9yo surfer’s board in pieces
-
Noosa News23 hours agoUnborn baby boy fighting for life after 38-week pregnant woman and partner hit by racing P-platers on the Gold Coast
-
Noosa News23 hours agoTruck driver dies after vehicle smashes into Queensland retirement home
-
Noosa News10 hours agoQueensland government looks to increase Spanish mackerel catch limits