Confiscated fossil turns out to be exceptional flying reptile from
Brazil
Complete skeleton provides first look at entire body of Tupandactylus
navigans

Date:
August 25, 2021
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
A fossil acquired in a police raid has turned out to be one of
the best- preserved flying reptiles ever found, according to a
new study.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A fossil acquired in a police raid has turned out to be one of the best- preserved flying reptiles ever found, according to a study published
August 11, 2021 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Victor Beccari
of the University of Sa~o Paulo and colleagues.


========================================================================== Tapejarids (an Early Cretaceous subgroup of flying reptiles called
pterosaurs) are known for their enormous head crests and their abundance
in the fossil record of Brazil, but most Brazilian tapejarid fossils
preserve only partial remains. In this study, researchers describe an exceptional tapejarid specimen which includes nearly the entire body,
mostly intact and even including remnants of soft tissue alongside
the bones, making it the most complete tapejarid skeleton ever found
in Brazil.

This fossil belongs to a species called Tupandactylus navigans, and it
has a dramatic history. It is preserved across six square-cut limestone
slabs which were confiscated during a police raid at Santos Harbour in
Sa~o Paulo. It is now among the collections of the University of Sa~o
Paulo, where researchers were able to reunite the slabs and examine the
entire fossil, even CT-scanning to reveal the bones concealed within
the stone. This is the first time that paleontologists have been able
to study more than just the skull of this species.

The description suggests this species had a terrestrial foraging
lifestyle, due to its long neck and the proportions of its limbs, as well
as its large head crest that could negatively influence long-distance
flight. However, the specimen possesses all the necessary adaptation
for powered flight, such as the presence of a notarium and a developed
muscle anchoring region in the arm bones. This specimen also has an
unusually large crest on its chin, part of its already impressive skull ornamentation. Precisely how all these factors contributed to the flight performance and lifestyle of these animals will be a subject of future research, among the many other questions that can be answered through
study of this exceptional fossil.

The authors add: "We described the most complete tapejarid
fossil from Brazil, a partially articulated skeleton of
Tupandactylus navigans with soft tissue preservation. This
specimen brings new insights into the anatomy of this animal and
its constraints for flight, arguing for terrestrial foraging ecology." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Victor Beccari, Felipe Lima Pinheiro, Ivan Nunes, Luiz Eduardo
Anelli,
Octa'vio Mateus, Fabiana Rodrigues Costa. Osteology of an
exceptionally well-preserved tapejarid skeleton from Brazil:
Revealing the anatomy of a curious pterodactyloid clade. PLOS ONE,
2021; 16 (8): e0254789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254789 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825143117.htm

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