Pterosaur Discovered in Brazil Had Large Bony Head Crest
Posted on August 14, 2014
Scientists have discovered fossils of a new pterosaur in southern Brazil. The new species, Caiuajara dobruskii, lived during the Upper Cretaceous. The pterosaur species had a wingspan ranging from 0.65 to 2.35 meters (2.1 feet to 7.7 feet). The scientists discovered enough fossils to learn how the pterosaur developed as it aged. At least 47 individual specimens of the new species were found at the site.
Caiuajara dobruskii had a unique bony projection extending outward from the front of its beak to above its eyes. The head crest grew larger as the pterosaur aged. The artist's drawing above shows three different ontogenetic stages of the pterosaur. The youngest pterosaur had a very small crest while the adult had an impressive head crest resembling a sail. The image below shows the development of the bony crest from juvenile to adult, with the darker color representing an adult.
The resemblance of the bony projection to the a butterfly wing has some calling the creature "butterfly headed."
The researchers say the pterosaurs likely lived in colonies around inland lakes in the ancient desert. The site where the fossils were found is thought to have once been an oasis. The researchers say it is possible that a desert storm would occasionally kill off some of the pterosaurs.
A paper on the pterosaur can be found here in the journal PLOS One. The study was led by Paulo Manzig from Universidade do Contestado in Brazil.