Strange new flying reptile fossils discovered

[Judi Lynn]

Strange new flying reptile fossils discovered
By Rachel Feltman August 13 at 4:11 PM


[font size=1]
An artist’s take on Caiuajara dobruskii.
(Maurilio Oliveira/Museu Nacional-UFRJ) [/font]

A new species of flying reptile has been classified from remains found in Brazil, scientists reported Wednesday in PLoS ONE. Caiuajara dobruskii, which lived around 80 million years ago, provided researchers with quite the archaeological haul: At least 47 individuals have been identified from the skeletal remains found.

The species must have been quite social to be found in such a large group,the scientists reported in the study. The evidence suggests that these reptiles lived in colonies surrounding a lake in the otherwise dry desert. Their wingspans started out around .65 meters, and gradually reached up to 2.35 meters at maturity. Because skeletal size didn’t change much between childhood and adulthood, the study states, the reptiles were most likely able to fly at a very young age.

But one thing that did change rapidly with age was Caiuajara dobruskii’s unusual bony head crest. The ridge jutted out from a large opening in the creature’s skull, just in front of the eyes.

In younger animals, the crest was small and sloping. As they aged, the crests grew larger and more steep.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2014/08/13/strange-new-flying-reptile-fossils-discovered/?tid=hpModule_9d3add6c-8a79-11e2-98d9-3012c1cd8d1e

Science:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/122831516

[Judi Lynn]

1. Ancient flying reptile's head crest looked like a yacht's sail

Ancient flying reptile's head crest looked like a yacht's sail

Source: Reuters - Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:04 GMT
Author: Reuters
By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - A flying reptile whose head was topped with a big bony crest shaped like the sail of a yacht swooped through the skies over Brazil roughly 90 million years ago.

Scientists announced on Wednesday the remarkable discovery of about 50 fossilized skeletons of a creature called Caiuajara dobruskii, a type of flying reptile known as a pterosaur that lived alongside the dinosaurs, at a site in southern Brazil.

These pterosaurs, whose wingspans measured up to nearly 8 feet (2.35 meters), inhabited a lakeside oasis in a large desert region during the Cretaceous Period, living in vibrant colonies with others of the same species of all ages, they said.

"This helps us to have a glimpse on the anatomical variation achieved by this species from young to old," said Alexander Kellner, a paleontologist with Brazil's National Museum at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, who led the study.

Many pterosaurs, especially the later ones, boasted elaborate and sometimes large head crests. Caiuajara's head was topped with a big triangular crest that looked like "a bony sail," according to Kellner. "It looks bizarre," he said.

More:
http://www.trust.org/item/20140813205703-wxzo2/

[lordsummerisle]

2. Looks like it's pointing a gun too n/t