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)
