Scientists, led by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, have identified a new species of pterosaur, Eotephradactylus mcintireae, from a 200 million-year-old jawbone unearthed in Arizona in 2011. This 'ash-winged dawn goddess' is the earliest pterosaur found in North America, preserved by volcanic ash in an ancient riverbed at Petrified Forest National Park, offering insights into Triassic ecosystems and evolutionary transitions.
200 million year-old jawbone revealed as new species
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Scientists, led by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, have identified a new species of pterosaur, Eotephradactylus mcintireae, from a 200 million-year-old jawbone unearthed in Arizona in 2011. This 'ash-winged dawn goddess' is the earliest pterosaur found in North America, preserved by volcanic ash in an ancient riverbed at Petrified Forest National Park, offering insights into Triassic ecosystems and evolutionary transitions.
Trending- 1 2011: The jawbone of the ancient reptile was unearthed in Arizona.
- 2 Over 200 million years ago: The pterosaur lived during the Triassic period.
- 3 Recently: Modern scanning techniques revealed details of the jawbone, leading to the identification of a new species.
- 4 Recently: Details of the discovery were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
- New understanding of ancient life and ecosystems during the Triassic period
- Potential for discovery of more pterosaur bones in similar ancient river deposits worldwide
- Insights into evolutionary transitions where extinct and modern animal groups coexisted
What: Scientists have discovered and identified a new species of pterosaur, named Eotephradactylus mcintireae, from a 200 million-year-old jawbone.
When: The jawbone was unearthed in 2011. Modern scanning techniques recently revealed details, and the discovery was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The pterosaur lived over 200 million years ago (Triassic period).
Where: The jawbone was found in a fossil bed at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, North America. The research team is led by scientists at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.
Why: Modern scanning techniques allowed for detailed analysis of the fragile jawbone, revealing unique features that confirmed it belonged to a previously unknown species. This discovery contributes to understanding ancient ecosystems and evolutionary transitions.
How: By using modern scanning techniques on the 2011-unearthed jawbone, scientists were able to discern details that led to the classification of Eotephradactylus mcintireae. The bones were preserved by volcanic ash in an ancient riverbed.