Home / Science / Fossilized Dinosaur Vomit Yields Newly Identified Extinct Pterosaur
Fossilized Dinosaur Vomit Yields Newly Identified Extinct Pterosaur
15 Nov
Summary
- Newly discovered extinct flying reptile species found in fossilized dinosaur vomit
- Fossil contained bones of Bakiribu waridza, a filter-feeding pterosaur
- Pterosaur bones likely broke during swallowing, with soft tissues digested first
Researchers have made a remarkable discovery, identifying a new extinct flying reptile species inside fossilized dinosaur vomit. The fossil, known as a "regurgitalite," was preserved in the Museu Camara Cascudo at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil.
The specimen included bones from two individuals of the recently identified filter-feeding pterosaur species Bakiribu waridza, as well as four fossil fish. Experts believe the pterosaur bones likely broke during swallowing, as the predator chewed them with force while eating. The absence of soft tissue matches a common pattern seen in regurgitates, where soft parts are digested first, leaving hard parts intact.
Researchers studied the evolutionary relationships of this species through phylogenetic analysis, and paleohistological analysis revealed clearly preserved dentin and pulp cavities in the bones. Many pterosaurs have been found in this region, but this is the first filter-feeding pterosaur known from the tropics.
Bakiribu's jaws are very long and have dense, brush-like rows of teeth, resembling those of Pterodaustro, another filter-feeding pterosaur. However, the two species differ in the size and spacing of their teeth. Both belong to the Ctenochasmatidae family, known for their long, needle-like teeth.
