The pterosaursmajestic flying reptiles from the dinosaur era, represent one of the greatest enigmas of evolution. These animals, the largest ever capable of flight, had lightweight bones designed for flight, making their fossilization extremely rare. When found, fossils are often incomplete or crushed, limiting the information available on more than 160 million years of evolution.
The most significant gap in the fossil record concerns the transition between the older, smaller species and the pterodactyloids, with wingspans that reached 10 meters. This transition, characterized by fundamental anatomical changes, has long been the subject of speculation.
A unique fossil: intact bones and unprecedented details
The exceptional discovery of Skiphosoura bavaricadiscovered in the Schaudiberg quarry in the Solnhofen region, marks an extraordinary step forward. This fossil, which can be dated to an intermediate period between the small ancestors of pterosaurs and the giant pterodactyloids, preserves almost all the bones in three dimensions, a very rare event. Despite the unusual “shuffled” arrangement of the bones, analysis of the fossil allowed scientists to identify crucial changes in the bone structure that may have paved the way for the enormous growth of the wings.
The fossil has a wingspan of 1.75 metres, larger than that of many of its predecessors, suggesting it was not even fully grown. The conformation of the wing bones shows an elongation of the metacarpals, a detail that predicts the anatomical characteristics of the more evolved pterodactyloids.
Skiphosoura stands out for its short and stiff taila trait that would influence in-flight balance, later becoming common. Other details, such as the length of the phalanges and the shape of the fifth toe, refer to their predecessors, indicating an interesting combination of evolutionary traits.
According to the paleontologist David Hone of Queen Mary University, London, this discovery represents a fundamental piece for understanding the transition between the most primitive forms and the flying giants of the following era. Skiphosoura, in fact, could provide clues not only to the anatomy, but also to the ecological habits of these animals: the robust claws suggest a climbing ability, hypothesizing a forest environment rather than a coastal one.
The Skiphosoura analysis adds valuable insights into the role of anatomical innovations in achieving the gigantic size of pterodactyloids. These details confirm that the changes did not occur simultaneously but through a gradual progression. The discovery, published on Current Biologycould pave the way for new research into the evolutionary and environmental interactions of pterosaurs.
