In the UK for the first time in the history of this country have discovered the remains of a pterosaur – ancient flying reptiles, the bones of which were found previously mainly in China and Brazil.
a Study published in the journal Cretaceous Research, and briefly about it tells Phys.org. The discovery was made by a student of the University of Portsmouth Megan Jacobs.
Walking in the Isle of Wight with her dog, she drew attention to the unusual stone. Student studying paleontology, thought it like the fossilized jaw.
the Find was investigated in the laboratory. As a result, scientists came to the conclusion that “stone” is indeed a fossil of an ancient creature. Moreover, it was found that the bone belonged to a pterosaur.
Earlier in Britain of the remains of these creatures are not found. Typically, these fossils are found in China. In addition, they were found in Brazil. The analysis showed that the lizard was found was toothless.
Probably, he belonged to that strange group of pterosaurs that were born with teeth, but with age has lost them. Last year a team from the same University of Portsmouth has found a similar pattern in Morocco. The species was named Afrotapejara. The newly discovered specimen from the British Isle of Wight received the name Wightia declivirostris.
“Although this is only a fragment of the jaw, it has all the typical features of the group, says Megan Jacobs. In particular, it can be seen with numerous tiny holes, which were the smallest organs of the senses.”
in addition, it seems that the pterosaur had a thin, curved and pointed beak. Scientists believe that it looks similar to toothless pterosaur, found in the territory of China, not Brazil.
Presumably, this lizard had a large crest on the head, and its size can be twice the skull. Scientists also suggest that these ridges were brightly colored and has long been a hallmark of sex.
