A team of Argentinean paleontologists recently identified a massive new species of prehistoric flying reptile, which hovered over the Andean plains tens of millions of years ago.
Two Cretaceous winged giants
Described in the review Cretaceous Researchthe two relatively complete fossils were discovered during excavations in the province of Mendozalocated in the west ofArgentina. A close analysis of the different bones (upper limbs, legs, vertebrae) allowed the highlighting of unique characteristics, indicating that these imposing winged creatures were the representatives of a species of pterosaur hitherto unknown, attached to the family of Azhdarchidae.
“ The remains were in different states of preservation “, highlighted Leonardo Ortiz David, lead author of the study. ” Some of them were complete, such as the humeri, syncarpals, and dorsal vertebrae, while others were fragmentary, including the phalanges, ulna, radius, femur, and pelvis. »
Recognizable by their disproportionate skull (sometimes proving longer than their slender body as a whole) and their very elongated necks, the Azhdarchidae were living at the end of Cretaceousit is approximately 145 to 66 million years old.
New Cretaceous pterosaur alert
‘Thanatosdrakon amaru’ – a flying reptile from Argentina!
A reminder that pterosaurs are not dinosaurs – dinosaurs and pterosaurs diverged from a common ancestor in the early Triassic period
https://t.co/FRIEDrwpFo
— University of Adelaide Palaeontologists (@UofAPalaeos) May 26, 2022
Fossil dating revealed that the two pterosaurs, with a wingspan of 7 and 9 meters respectively, died at exactly the same time, 86 million years ago. According Ortiz Davidthe smaller one did not appear to have completed its growth, suggesting that it may have been a juvenile and a close relative.
Thanatosdrakon amaru
The team named the new species Thanatosdrakon amarucombining the Greek words thanatos (the death), dragon (dragon) and the Quechuan term amaru (flying snake). In Inca mythology, the amaruca was a huge two-headed reptile that lived at the bottom of lakes and rivers.
” As it is the largest species of pterosaur ever discovered in South America, the name death dragon seemed particularly appropriate to us,” Explain Ortiz David. “Currently, there is no record of a close relative with similar bone characteristics in the fossil record.. »
A few weeks ago, a series of excavations carried out in Patagonia had led to the discovery of fossilized bones belonging to a new species of megaraptor.
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