Palaeontologists working in South America think they may have discovered a new species of pterosaur that skimmed over the surface of water to catch its food.

A study of the distinctive skull of Thalassodromeus sethi, which was found in the Araripe Basin, in north-eastern Brazil, suggests the ancient winged lizard spent its days flying lightly over the surface of a lake or ocean, occasionally dipping its head into the water to snatch a fish or two.

Alexander W.A. Kellner and Diogenes de Almeida Campos, who made the discovery, are fellows at Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico, and associate researchers at the American Museum of Natural History.

In their analysis of the skull, they found its blade-like, streamlined shape and its jaw very similar to that of the living birds Rynchops, or skimmers, which glide along and dip into water to catch their prey.

Another feature of the skull is a massive bony crest covered in a network of grooves, representing an extensive blood vessel system. The researchers speculate that this may have helped regulate the pterosaur's body temperature, which would have built up considerable heat during flight.

They have also hypothesised other functions for the crest, such as species recognition and sexual dimorphism - where males' and females' crests differ.

This is not the only species of pterosaur with a crest on its head. The pteranodon is also known for this distinguishing trait.

Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to gain powered flight, and are among the closest known relatives to dinosaurs.

Although pterosaurs and dinosaurs lived at the same time, researchers don't know very much about their behaviour, since their fragile bones don't often survive as fossils.

Bob Jones, a palaeontologist with the Australian Museum, is excited about this latest discovery. "It's an addition to our knowledge of the pterosaurs. It's quite interesting that it's got this method of feeding which implies this skimming method obviously arose twice - in reptiles first and then in birds."

Source of the given news and the copyrights belong to a ABC Online News

Back