Speaking of "winged dinosaurs", immediately comes to mind the image of pterodactyl, a giant reptile with a wingspan of 12 meters. Pterosaurs, namely the so-called squad of flying lizards, died out about 66 million years ago. To this day, scientists from different countries are finding the remains of new species of these amazing animals. This time, the researchers were able to identify the discovered remains of a miniature flying lizard, whose growth was only 30 centimeters, and the wingspan did not exceed one and a half meters. In other words, it was a creature no more than a domestic cat.
The remains of a new species were discovered in Canada by an amateur paleontologist in 2009. Only a few years later, scientists tightly took up their identification and came to the conclusion that their age is about 77 million years. Apparently, the tiny creatures belong to the Upper Cretaceous period, which contradicts a number of ideas of the science of pterosaurs.
“The pterosaur discovered by us is living proof that these creatures survived to the end of the Cretaceous period. Previously it was assumed that by this time they were ousted by the more familiar birds, ”reflects the author of the study Elizabeth Martin-Silverstone.
We offer you a look at the wonderful illustrations, in which the artist tried to restore the image of these amazing creatures, extinct tens of millions of years ago. Charming creatures, aren't they? More information about the open dinosaur can be found on the official website of the magazine. .
The article is based on materials .
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