SCI/TECH: Two New Species Of Ancient Flying Reptile Found In China, page 1

posted on Oct, 5 2005 @ 07:48 PM

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Two new species of flying reptiles that belong to the "pterosaurs" family have been found in fossil rich north eastern China. The 120 million year old reptiles had evolved the ability to fly and are related to European groups never before found in China. The find includes a partial skeleton along with a jaw and skull and shows that the pointy teethed reptile had a wing span of 2.4 metres. The discovery was made in the Liaoning Province of China, at Jehol in the same area that remains of other prehistoric creatures such as dinosaurs, bird and fish have been found.

www.abc.net.au
The findings gives scientists a further opportunity to examine the relationship between birds and pterosaurs.

Fossils of about 40 pterosaurs and more than 1,000 birds have been found in the area.

Pterosaurs lived from about 228 million to 65 million years ago. Their size ranged from those of a small bird to a creature with a wing-span of up to 18 metres. They had hollow bones, thin bodies, large brains, crests and long beaks.

Flight in pterosaurs evolved separately from birds. Scientists had thought that the creatures glided on the wind, but research has shown that large species could fly. Some species had a hair-like covering on their body.

They concluded that birds were more diverse and outnumbered pterosaurs. Birds also tended to stay in inland regions while flying reptiles dominated coastal areas.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

This is a rare find in that these sorts of creatures were previously thought to be native to Europe only. The area being worked is fossil rich so there is a good chance of more discoveries coming out of the area that challenge previously held beliefs by the scientific community.

The birds were small with a wing span of 2.4 metres as compared to other flying ancient giants discovered in the past.

Related News Links:
www.livescience.com
english.people.com.cn
english.people.com.cn
www.theage.com.au

Nygdan

posted on Oct, 6 2005 @ 08:51 AM

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Here is some more information on the subject:
Discussion on the Dinosaur Mailing List

And here is a copy of the article itself.
www.savefile.com... (pdf)

I just wanted to clarify, as per your last line, that these things aren't birds, tho perhaps I misunderstand your comment, and you are merely sayng that birds at the time were small compared to pterodactyls and the like.

Astronomer68

posted on Oct, 6 2005 @ 07:22 PM

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Fascinating creatures. The links both you and Nygdan supplied were very informative.

Mayet

posted on Oct, 6 2005 @ 08:00 PM

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Originally posted by Nygdan

I just wanted to clarify, as per your last line, that these things aren't birds, tho perhaps I misunderstand your comment, and you are merely sayng that birds at the time were small compared to pterodactyls and the like.

No it was my mistake to class them as birds. I should have said these creatures had a small wingspan compared to some similiar creatures of the era. IE:Larger pterodactyls