For the first time ever, researchers have studied a near-complete skeleton of Tupandactylus navigans, a prehistoric flying reptile with a head crest that accounted for nearly half its height.
Victor BeccariAn artist ’s rendering of whatTupandactylus navigansmay have looked like 100 million years ago .
In 2013 , the Federal Police of Brazil successfully cross an illegal fogy trade . The raid of Santos Harbor in São Paulo yielded about 3,000 prehistoric specimens steal from the Araripe Basin to the north . And the convalescence include six limestone slabs that contained one of the most entire pterosaur frame ever discover .
police force cautiously retrieved the limestone pieces from the barrel in which smugglers had hidden them before handing them to the University of São Paulo for analysis . Now , a paper issue in the journalPLOS ONEhas described this truly historic find for the first prison term .
Victor BeccariAn artist’s rendering of whatTupandactylus navigansmay have looked like 100 million years ago.
The specie , Tupandactylus navigans , is a prehistoric flight reptile that was only first described by expert in 2003 . Until now , the entirety of scientist ’ understanding of the species was based on only two skulls known to subsist in the world .
Paleontologists have sincedatedthe outstandingly well - preserved fogy to 115 million class ago . For the first time , researchers were n’t specify to the animate being ’s skull — and were able to conduct comprehensive CT scans that revealed how this nonextant creature wait and behaved .
Victor BeccariA digital fashion model ofTupandactylus navigansbased on the historical CT scan .
Victor BeccariA digital model ofTupandactylus navigansbased on the historic CT scans.
“ The specimen is exceptionally well - preserved , with over 90 % of its underframe and subdued - tissue picture of the foreland top and keratinous beak , ” study author and paleontologist at the University of São Paulo , Victor Becarri , toldCNN . “ This pterosaur was over 2.5 metre ( 8.2 feet ) in wingspan and 1 meter ( 3.3 feet ) magniloquent . ”
Perhaps most curious was the discovery that 40 per centum of the tool ’s top was accounted for by the bird ’s head tip . Beccari excuse that although evidence suggests that the reptilian was capable of flight , the size of the top , along with its elongated cervix , likely determine the pterosaur ’s flight distances .
“ The underframe shows all the version for a powered flight , which the animal may have used to quickly take flight piranha , ” say Beccari . “ This specimen allows us to understand more about the all over anatomy of this animal and brings perceptivity into its ecology . ”
Victor BeccariThe specimen was severed and found across six limestone slabs, but pieced together in order to scan it.
The studyexplainedthatTupandactylus navigansbelonged to a group of dinosaurs called tapejarids . These creatures swooped across Early Cretaceous catamenia landscape between 100.5 million and 145 million year ago .
Victor BeccariThe specimen was sever and discover across six limestone slab , but put together together to read it .
While the two antecedently recovered skull of this mintage confirm they give giant tip atop their heads , researchers had n’t been able to study their muscular structure or lower body anatomy until now . Tapejarids are middling prevalent in Brazil ’s fossil record book , but accomplished skeleton are rare due to their flimsy , fragile osseous tissue .
Victor BeccariThe six limestone slabs (left) and subsequent computer analysis (right).
With a nearly - complete fossilized systema skeletale on their hands , researchers were finally able to study the rest period of this creature ’s body and properly search how it was able-bodied to fly . Despite such an outsize crown on its head , it appeared that the notarium , a bone helping the animal ’s chest withstand fender movement , allowed it to vanish .
Beccari and his time at last only commence studying this fogey in 2016 , and they used CT scans to create a three - dimensional mannikin of the pterosaur ’s bones . The images also detailed highly - develop muscle system in its sleeve bones , with experts believe the flying reptile was able of short flight but mostly foraged for fruits and seeds on the ground .
“ With such a grandiloquent head crown and a comparatively foresighted neck opening , this animal may have been curb to short - distance flights , ” say Beccari .
Victor BeccariThe six limestone slab ( left ) and subsequent computer analysis ( correct ) .
Since old subject area purported that tapejarids had short and sturdy neck to bear these tremendous heads during escape , the recovery of this fossil and subsequent study has forced paleontologists to reassess . Now , Beccaripositsthis mintage run more like peacocks or Gallus gallus than traditional snort .
Ultimately , this is the first time in history that experts like Beccari have gotten their hands on a over skeletal system of the long - extinct species . Despite its break up state across six individual limestone slab , it was piece together like a puzzle , rake , and studied without yield — to historic upshot .
As it stand , that pieced - together remnant from the Cretaceous period is on presentation at the Geosciences Museum in São Paulo — after almost being lose to private collector for good .
“ Fossils in Brazil are protect by practice of law , ” Beccari explained . “ They are part of the geological heritage of our commonwealth . ”
After read about the close - double-dyed pterosaur fogy confiscate during a police maraud , learn aboutItalian custom officials seize a 159 - million - yr - old dinosaur egg . Then , read about thenew dinosaur with a mavin - like skull being named after David Bowie .
