University of Southampton paleontologists have described a completely new genus and species of small prehistoric flying reptile from a fossil discovered on the Isle of Wight, southern England, United Kingdom.
Crow-sized Vectidraco daisymorrisae (University of Southampton)
The new flying reptile, named Vectidraco daisymorrisae, dates from the late Cretaceous period, some 115 million years ago. It is currently known only from a well-preserved fossil pelvis, just 1.5 inches (40 mm) long, but that was enough for the scientists to work out that they were dealing with a new species.
The fossil was found in 2008 by Daisy Morris, who was 5 at the time. In recognition of her find and the generous donation of the fossil by the Morris family to the Natural History Museum, the species has been named in her honor. The genus name means ‘dragon from the Isle of Wight.’
Several features of the fossil allowed the paleontologists to work out that the species most probably belongs to a group of pterodactyloids called the azhdarchoids.
Vectidraco grouped close to the tapejarids – a group of relatively small, short-snouted azhdarchoids known from Brazil, Spain and China – and was probably tapejarid-like in shape and lifestyle.
“Azhdarchoids are, in my opinion, among the most interesting of pterosaurs. All are from the Cretaceous, all are toothless, and many were especially well adapted for life in terrestrial environments like woodlands, tropical forests and floodplains,” said Dr Darren Naish, lead author of the paper describing Vectidraco in the journal PLoS ONE.
“Bony head crests are a typical feature of the group, as are adaptations in the fore- and hindlimbs for quadrupedal walking. As well as tapejarids, the group includes the somewhat larger thalassodromids, and the sometimes gigantic, long-snouted azhdarchids.”
By comparing Vectidraco to azhdarchoids known from better remains, it probably had a wingspan of about 30 inches (75 cm), and was about 14 inches (35 cm) from snout to tail.
“In other words, it was similar in size to a gull or a large crow. It was probably crested, and with limb proportions that allowed it to be a reasonably good walker and runner on the ground and an expert flier when in cluttered habitats like forests.”
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Bibliographic information: Naish D et al. 2013. A New Small-Bodied Azhdarchoid Pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of England and Its Implications for Pterosaur Anatomy, Diversity and Phylogeny. PLoS ONE 8 (3): e58451. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058451
