160-million-year-old ‘winged lizard’ fossil found in Chile
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Scientists in Chile have announced the discovery of a fossil of the first-ever pterosaur found in the southern hemisphere.
What is a pterosaur?
This is a type of winged lizard that lived hundreds of millions of years ago. Often called a dinosaur, it is actually not a dinosaur but it related to them.
This winged lizard lived around 160 million years ago in what is today the Atacama desert in Chile. Scientists actually first made the discovery in 2009 but have confirmed it only now.
The fossil is that of a Rhamphorhynchine pterosaur. This is the first such creature scientists have found in Gondwana. This is an ancient supercontinent that later formed the continents in the southern hemisphere.
What does the fossil show about this pterosaur?
The winged lizard had a wingspan of up to two metres, along with a long tail, and pointed snout.
Moreover, this discovery proves that this creature lived in wider areas than expected.
Are you interested in learning about fossils? Fossils are parts of an animal or plant that lived thousands or millions of years ago which has turned into rock. They include bones, shells, exoskeletons, objects preserved in amber, hair, and even oil and coal. The study of fossils is called palaeontology. Studying fossils helps us understand more about life in ancient times and its connection to our world today. Keep reading Curious Times to know what scientists are discovering about Earth’s past.
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