China unearths an exceptionally preserved toothless pterosaur fossil

A new species of toothless pterosaur has been identified in northeastern China. Named , the species belongs to the Chaoyangopteridae family of pterosaurs. This ancient group of flying reptiles consisted of medium sized and high crested pterosaurs. During the , around 125 to 113 million years ago, this flying reptile dominated parts of what is now China.

The fossil was discovered in the multi layered Jiufotang formation in Huludao City, Liaoning Province, China, according to . The excavation team, led by paleontologists from China and Brazil, discovered two specimens, one of which was the most complete and well preserved chaoyangopterid skeleton yet discovered.

Of particular note is the holotype, representing an individual with a maximized wingspan of about 2.16 meters (7.1 feet). “Pterosaurs comprise an important and enigmatic group of Mesozoic flying reptiles that first evolved active flight among vertebrates and have filled all aerial environmental niches for almost 160 million years,” said Dr.

Xiaolin Wang from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and colleagues. “Despite being a totally extinct group, they have achieved a wide diversity of forms in a window of time spanning from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period,” Wang added in the .

Fossil preserved with rare anatomical features As per the study, the fossils provide valuable insights into the Jehol Biota, a terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem preserved in northeastern China. The Jehol Biota has previously yielded significant discoveries, including other chaoyangopterids like The study of not only expands our knowledge of these toothless pterosaurs but also reveals new details about their previously unknown palatal region, which is the roof of the mouth in the oral cavity.

The study also sheds light on the rarely preserved ear portion, including the stapes, offering valuable information about the internal anatomy of these ancient flying reptiles. “This new species provides several novel information regarding these rather enigmatic flying reptiles, including data on the palatal region,” the authors mentioned.

The well preserved remains would further contribute to a better understanding of the morphological traits within this chaoyangopterid clade. The findings were reported in the journal.