An artist's impression of the pterosaur

A tiny pterosaur fossil was discovered in the western part of China's Liaoning Province. It is currently the smallest of the species of flying pterosaurs ever found in the world.

A tiny flying reptile fossil was uncovered at Yaolugou, Jianchang County in northeast China's Liaoning Province, according to a Xinhua News Agency report today. This region was covered in forests at the time when the small reptile lived, about 120 million years ago.

The fossil is well preserved and it has long sharp bill, according to a Chinese expert, Wang Xiaolin, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The creature is toothless and has a wingspan of only 25 centimeters, making it the smallest flying reptile ever found in the world.

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Science and two Brazilian paleontologists have done joint research on the tiny fossil. They have categorized it as a secluded forest pterosaur.

(China.org.cn February 13, 2008)