June 12th 2024.
New research has revealed that a collection of fossilized bones, discovered in western Queensland in 2021 by local museum curator Kevin Petersen, belong to a previously unknown species of ancient flying reptile. This discovery was made by a team of researchers from Curtin University who studied the bones in great detail. They have determined that the bones belong to a new genus and species of pterosaur, which was a formidable flying reptile that coexisted with dinosaurs.
The team, led by PhD student Adele Pentland, from Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, was able to identify the specimen as an anhanguerian based on its skull shape, teeth arrangement, and shoulder bone shape. The anhanguerian is a group of pterosaurs that have been found all over the world, including in places like Brazil, England, Morocco, China, Spain, and the United States.
Pentland explained that this particular species, named Haliskia, had a wingspan of approximately 4.6 meters and would have been a fearsome predator around 100 million years ago. During this time period, much of central western Queensland was underwater and globally positioned where Victoria's southern coastline is today. The team believes that Haliskia's diet mainly consisted of fish and cephalopods, as indicated by the presence of a muscular tongue.
The specimen is 22% complete, which makes it the most complete pterosaur specimen ever found in Australia. It includes lower jaws, the tip of the upper jaw, 43 teeth, vertebrae, ribs, bones from both wings, and part of a leg. The team was also able to identify very thin and delicate throat bones, which suggest the presence of a muscular tongue that aided in feeding.
These fascinating pterosaur remains will soon be on display at Petersen's museum, the Kronosaurus Korner in north-west Queensland. Along with these bones, visitors will also be able to see a number of significant marine fossil specimens. Petersen, who is thrilled with this discovery, believes that it will not only benefit the scientific community but also contribute to education and regional tourism.
He said, "I'm thrilled that my discovery is a new species, as my passion lies in helping shape our modern knowledge of prehistoric species." The research has been published in Scientific Reports - Nature today, adding to the ever-growing body of knowledge about these ancient flying reptiles.
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