Scientists found clear traces of an attack by a crocodile-like animal in the fossilized neck bone of a young pterosaur, a flying reptile from the Cretaceous Period.
Paleontologists conducting studies in the Alberta region of Canada discovered the neck bone of a pterosaur from the Azhdarchidae family.
The neck bone, which dates back approximately 76 million years, was determined to belong to a juvenile of the Cryodrakon boreas species. While the juvenile’s wing was estimated to be 2 meters, adults of this species had wingspans of up to 10 meters.
This family of pterosaurs, which lived alongside dinosaurs, were the largest animals to ever soar through the skies.
Scientists who examined the bone noticed a 4-millimeter bite mark on it.
BELONGING TO A CROCODILE-LIKE ANIMAL
Dr. Caleb Brown and his team from the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Canada determined in a study published in the peer-reviewed Journal Of Paleontology on Thursday, January 23 that a crocodile-like animal was responsible for the bite.
