A groundbreaking discovery has been made at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, shedding new light on the history of pterosaurs and the evolution of life during the Triassic Period. A bone bed containing 1,468 fossils, including those of an ancient pterosaur, has revealed a unique ecosystem that existed around 209 million years ago.
The fossilized remains of a previously unknown pterosaur species, Eotephradactylus, have been found in the bone bed, which is believed to be one of the oldest known pterosaur discoveries outside of Europe. The discovery was made possible by careful preparation and analysis of the fossils, which were enclosed in plaster to protect them during excavation.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also includes a range of other Triassic organisms, such as scaly fish, early frogs, and crocodile-like reptiles. The findings suggest that these creatures lived in distinct ecological habitats, with the pterosaurs inhabiting streams and channels where water intermittently flowed.
The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the evolution of pterosaurs and their role in the Triassic ecosystem. The study also highlights the importance of fossil preservation and deposition in understanding the history of life on Earth.
With this new find, scientists have been able to bridge a 12-million-year gap in the record of Triassic fossils, which had previously shown only a small number of fossils from this period. The discovery has brought us closer to piecing together a complete picture of Triassic life and sheds new light on the history of pterosaurs and other ancient creatures.
The findings also suggest that flight was a key adaptation for survival in the Triassic ecosystem, allowing pterosaurs to expand their habitats across Pangaea and diversify into new forms. The discovery has far-reaching implications for our understanding of the evolution of life on Earth and the importance of continued fossil research.
Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/a-bone-bed-from-the-dawn-of-the-dinosaurs-has-revealed-the-oldest-known-pterosaur-found-in-north-america-180986939