Chilean scientists have unearthed a collection of ancient pterosaur fossil bones in the world’s driest desert, the Atacama.
Pterosaur bones unearthed at fossil cemetery in Chile. Video: Reuters
A team from the University of Chile led by paleontologist Jhonatan Alarcon has been searching for pterosaurs fossils for many years, but the new discovery surpassed their expectations.
“Discoveries of this kind are rare. In most parts of the world, pterosaur bones have been found isolated or not in large groups,” Alarcon said.
The excavation site in the Atacama Desert is filled with the bones of various pterosaurs. Many of the specimens in it are very well preserved even though dating back to 100 million years ago.
The discovery of an entire fossil cemetery will allow paleontologists to study the behavior of Pterosaurs, not just their anatomy. “We might be able to determine how groups of pterosaurs formed if we know if they nurtured offspring,” Alarcon added.
Simulate a hunting pterosaur. Image: Warpaint
Due to adaptations to a life of flight, the bones of pterosaurs are often thinner, flattened and hollow than those of terrestrial species. Therefore, their fossils are often fragile and difficult to keep intact. However, the newly unearthed specimens are surprisingly well-preserved, allowing the team to restore their three-dimensional bones. This will also help us better understand the anatomy of pterosaurs.
The new discovery supports the theory that Pterosaurs were once common in northern Chile because their fossil graveyard is located only about 65 kilometers from another pterosaur bone excavation site.
Doan Duong (According to Reuters)
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