The skeleton of a fearsome predator dubbed a ‘demonic pelican’ has been unearthed, 100 million years after hovering over inland Australia.
The brand new species of pterosaur, a flying reptile which might have lived throughout the age of dinosaurs, was found exterior the agricultural city of Richmond in western Queensland.
Adele Pentland, who led the Curtin College analysis crew that recognized the brand new species, stated the creature had a wingspan of 4.6 metres.
‘They have been described as being a type of demonic pelican,’ she informed AAP.
‘That they had these massive jaws stuffed with rows of spike-shaped tooth and the top of this animal would have been about 60 centimetres.’
Adele Pentland (pictured) says the flying reptile in all probability ate fish and squid-like creatures
The 100-million-year outdated fossilised stays of a flying reptile, described as a ‘demonic pelican’, have been found in outback Queensland.
The realm the place the fossilised stays had been discovered was as soon as coated by an inland sea, which Ms Pentland stated would have been the pterosaur’s meals supply.
‘It was in all probability consuming fish and squid-like creatures,’ the Curtin College PhD candidate stated.
‘We discover bones of plesiosaurs – marine reptiles – and there are definitely many fish fossils discovered this fashion too.’
The fossilised stays had been unearthed by Kronosaurus Korner museum curator Kevin Petersen in 2021, and recognized by the Curtin College crew as Haliskia peterseni.
‘I am thrilled that my discovery is a brand new species, as my ardour lies in serving to form our trendy data of prehistoric species,’ Mr Petersen stated.
The skeleton is 22 per cent full, together with your complete decrease jaws, the tip of the higher jaw, 43 tooth, ribs, bones from each wings and a part of the leg.
Ms Pentland stated it was probably the most full pterosaur skeleton present in Australia.
‘There’s just one different partial pterosaur skeleton from Australia and it is 10 per cent full,’ she stated.
‘To know there’s doubtlessly extra materials on the market if extra digs proceed … that is a completely unbelievable feeling.’
The Haliskia peterseni is on show at Kronosaurus Korner within the Queensland outback city of Richmond, which Ms Pentland stated would increase paleo-tourism within the area.
‘It is simply one other superb fossil that individuals can come see,’ she stated.
‘The realm has been drought-affected for a lot of years so the cash that is introduced into these small cities by tourism actually makes an enormous distinction.’
