The finding of the new species was described as a “complete surprise” by Professor Paul Barrett, a senior researcher at the Natural History Museum, because “most of its close relatives are from China”.
168–166 million years ago, during the Middle Jurassic period when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, the flying reptile Ceoptera evansae thrived.
The discovery was a “complete surprise,” according to Professor Paul Barrett, a senior researcher at the Natural History Museum, because “most of its close relatives are from China.”
The fossil remains were discovered by paleontologists in 2006 while on a field trip to Elgol, which is located on the island’s southwest coast.
Ever since, years have passed as the crew physically prepared the material and scanned the bones, some of which are still fully lodged in the rock.
The skeleton is partial, with only portions of the shoulders, wings, legs, and backbone remaining, but despite this, the researchers claimed it offers important insights on the diversity and evolutionary history of pterosaurs.
While pterodactyls are the term for a specific family of pterosaurs, pterosaurs are frequently referred to as pterodactyls.
According to researchers, the newly discovered pterosaur species is a member of the Darwinoptera group, which includes numerous fossils discovered in China.
According to research that was published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Darwinoptera may have been far more diversified than previously believed and may have survived for over 25 million years.
“Ceoptera helps to narrow down the timing of several major events in the evolution of flying reptiles,” stated Professor Barrett.
Considering that the majority of its near relatives are from China, its discovery in the Middle Jurassic of the UK was a great surprise.
