hundreds of pterosaur eggs reveal early life insights
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

to reveal new insights

Hundreds of pterosaur eggs reveal early life insights

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleHundreds of pterosaur eggs reveal early life insights

Pterosaurs were reptiles, and the first creatures -- after insects -- to evolve powered flight
Rio de Janeiro - Muslimchronicle

Scientists have peered inside the largest collection of fossilized pterosaur eggs ever found, using 3D scans to reveal new insights into these flying cousins of dinosaurs, researchers said Thursday.

Pterosaurs were reptiles, and the first creatures -- after insects -- to evolve powered flight, meaning they flapped their wings to stay aloft instead of simply jumping and gliding. They went extinct along with the dinosaurs some 66 million years ago.

Until now, scientists had found some pterosaur eggs with remains inside, including three in Argentina and five in China.

But the latest report in the peer-reviewed US journal Science is based on the biggest collection to date -- 215 fossilized eggs that were found in a three-meter (yard) long sandstone block in northwestern China's Hami City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Sixteen of the eggs contained fossilized remains of a pterosaur species known as Hamipterus tianshanensis.

None held a full set of pterosaur bones, likely because pieces were lost over the years due to storms and floods.

But scientists did find partial wing and skull bones, along with one complete lower jaw, which fill in aspects of pterosaurs' life cycle that has been poorly understood until now.

Using three-dimensional computed tomography scans, they discovered intact and well-developed thigh bones suggesting the creatures "benefited from functional hind legs shortly after hatching," said the report by paleontologists in China and Brazil.

But weak chest muscles indicate "that newborns were likely not able to fly" and "likely needed some parental care."

- Nesting behavior -

Adult pterosaur bones were also scattered across the site, a sign that they returned to the same nesting spots over time, much the same as modern day sea turtles.

The massive numbers of eggs and bones point to major storms thrashing the site, submerging the eggs in a lake where they floated briefly before sinking and becoming buried alongside adult skeletons.

Researchers also noted that the cracked exterior of the eggs resembled the fragile softness of lizard eggs.

"All are deformed to a certain extent, which indicate their pliable nature," said the study.

One of the young pterosaurs was estimated to be "at least two years old and still growing at the time of its death, supporting the growing body of evidence that pterosaurs had long incubation periods."

An accompanying Perspective article in the journal Science, written by D. Charles Deeming of the University of Lincoln, called the study "remarkable for the number of eggs in association with adults and juvenile pterosaurs that it reports on."

However, many questions remain, including whether the size of each clutch was really two as previous studies have suggested, just how the pterosaurs concealed their eggs, whether beneath vegetation or sand or soil, and why so many of the eggs appear dehydrated.

"Hopefully additional finds of equally spectacular fossils will help us answer such questions," he wrote.

source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

hundreds of pterosaur eggs reveal early life insights hundreds of pterosaur eggs reveal early life insights

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 17:35 2017 Wednesday ,27 December

Egyptian MP underlines Egypt’s ability

GMT 15:43 2011 Sunday ,15 May

US bid to save Louisiana cities

GMT 12:06 2012 Friday ,04 May

Is there a solution for Sudan?

GMT 07:43 2014 Tuesday ,12 August

Where is Assad on Gaza

GMT 07:44 2017 Tuesday ,07 February

Holding local elections requires dialogue

GMT 10:23 2016 Saturday ,16 January

Jazz parades and glittery parties

GMT 14:45 2017 Thursday ,07 September

NATO on guard ahead of major Russian war games

GMT 23:59 2011 Wednesday ,09 March

Exxon Scores Key Victory In Alaska

GMT 12:13 2011 Friday ,16 December

Beckham Style Icon for Over 50

GMT 13:53 2011 Tuesday ,28 June

De Gea confirms Manchester United offer

GMT 23:07 2012 Tuesday ,31 January

The Kardashian Sisters Topless

GMT 08:21 2011 Wednesday ,28 December

Modern rocking chair

GMT 00:52 2011 Friday ,25 November

Graffiti as art in order-conscious Singapore

GMT 04:01 2015 Tuesday ,17 February

Qatar national library to host event for children

GMT 10:18 2012 Sunday ,08 January

Mental illness 'rampant' in Somalia

GMT 07:17 2015 Monday ,02 March

Tintin set to go at Paris auctions

GMT 14:27 2017 Monday ,06 February

NATO starts anti-Daesh bomb training in Iraq

GMT 09:06 2016 Wednesday ,26 October

Canada parliament votes to take in Yazidi refugees

GMT 20:28 2017 Monday ,19 June

Deadly wildfires around the world

GMT 04:31 2017 Thursday ,16 February

Tunisian designers look to past for inspiration
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle