The animal had a 2-meter wingspan and a large bony crest on its head. A team of researchers from Britain, America, and Germany identified a 145-million-year-old pterosaur, a class of now-extinct flying reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs. The creature earned the nickname 'Elvis' upon its discov
Photograph of the whole specimen of Petrodacyle. Credit: René LauerA team of researchers from Britain, America, and Germany identified a 145-million-year-old pterosaur, a class of now-extinct flying reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs. The creature earned the nickname ‘Elvis’ upon its discovery in Bavaria, Germany, due to the large bony crest on its skull, reminiscent of a pompadour.
Many pterosaurs are known with bony crests which they used primarily as sexual signals to other members of the, but Pterodactyle has by far the largest crest even seen in a ctenochasmatid. Dr. David Hone of Queen Mary University of London, the lead author on the study said, “Big though this crest is, we know that these pterosaurs had skin-like extensions attached to it, so in life, Petrodactyle would have had an even larger crest.
The petrodactyle was unusually large too. It has a wingspan of around 2 meters, but it was still an older ‘teenager’ by pterosaur standards and would have been even larger as a fully mature animal. Even so, it is one of the largest pterosaurs known from the Lateperiod. Bruce Lauer of the Lauer Foundation, an author on the study said “The specimen was located in a quarry which is producing scientifically important fossils that provide additional insights into Late Jurassic Pterosaurs.
Dr. Hone concluded, “Peter Wellnhofer is long overdue for having a species of German pterosaur named after him to honor his lifelong contribution to the study of these amazing animals.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scientists Discover That Australian Honeypot Ant Honey Possesses Unique Anti-Microbial PropertiesResearch reveals that honeypot ant honey possesses strong antimicrobial qualities. Researchers have found that the honey produced by ants native to Australia possesses unique anti-microbial activity against bacteria and fungi that could make the liquid useful medicinally. The study, which was re
Read more »
Your unique body odor could identify who you are and provide insights into your health, all from the touch of a handFrom the aroma of fresh-cut grass to the smell of a loved one, you encounter scents in every part of your life. Not only are you constantly surrounded by odor, you're also producing it. And it is so distinctive that it can be used to tell you apart from everyone around you.
Read more »
Rimowa Collaborates With Tiffany & Co. To Unveil Unique Travel CollectionThis might be the chicest travel collection out there
Read more »
These 6 unique rentals are in driving distance from Pa.’s best fall foliage destinationEach of these rentals offers a quick and easy trip to what may be the best fall foliage destination in the world, in addition to lovely accommodations in their own right.
Read more »
Protostars in Unique Triple Formation Illuminate Stellar Feeding MechanismsAn international research team used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe the triple protostar system IRAS 04239+2436, to investigate the detailed structure of the gas around the protostars. As a result, the scientists, led by Jeong-Eun Lee, a professor at Seoul Natio
Read more »
Laura Birn on the 'Unique' Challenge of Playing Eto in 'Foundation' Season 2'She has a fight for her freedom, for her life.'
Read more »