Over in Australia, paleontologists have stumbled upon a never-before-seen species of Pterosaur. These flying reptiles once soared through the skies alongside our beloved dinosaurs in Western Queensland.
Kevin Petersen, while serving as curator at the Kronosaurus Korner Museum in Richmond, Australia, first unearthed these fossilized bones back in 2021. Identified as Haliskia peterseni, these remains belong to a new genus and species of the Anhanguerian pterosaur.
Pterosaurs, the ancient flying reptiles that roamed during the age of dinosaurs, existed from the Late Triassic to the Cretaceous Period. They are known for their wide range of sizes and adaptations, from small bird-like creatures to massive predators with wingspans exceeding 32 feet.
Leading the team of researchers is Adele Pentland, a doctoral student at Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences. The specimen was identified based on its shape, teeth arrangement, and shoulder bone structure. Anhanguerians once dwelled in what are now Brazil, England, Morocco, China, Spain, and the United States.
The estimated wingspan of Haliskia is around 15 feet. “Haliskia, a fearsome prey species that lived approximately 100 million years ago in central west Queensland when it was submerged under water,” Pentland explained.
The full article has been published in Scientific Reports, an online journal. Pterosaurs had a varied diet including fish, small vertebrates, and invertebrates, playing a crucial role in the prehistoric ecosystem.
Petersen’s meticulous preparation of the specimen unveiled the most complete anhanguerian fossil discovered in Australia, with 22% of the specimen preserved. This find includes intact lower and upper jaws with 43 teeth, vertebrae, wingbones, and a portion of a leg.
H. peterseni now joins the prestigious marine fossils at Kronosaurus Korner, alongside the gigantic marine reptile Kronosaurus queenslandicus. Other remarkable aquatic fossils displayed at the museum include ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.
Proudly declaring, Petersen expressed, “This discovery is an exciting boost for regional tourism, science, and education. I am thrilled to have unearthed a new species. It is my passion to contribute to our understanding of ancient species.”