Tag Page ArizonaFossils

Arizona’s ancient flying reptile discovery

A 209-million-year-old flying reptile, unlike any seen before, has just been uncovered in Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park. This new species, Eotephradactylus mcintireae, predates birds and bats as North America’s oldest known pterosaur. What’s wild is its teeth were all worn down—suggesting it feasted on armored fish, not the usual pterosaur diet. Scientists are still puzzled about how these creatures first took to the skies, since there’s no clear evolutionary link like there is for birds. Imagine what else could be hiding beneath Arizona’s fossil-rich ground! What do you think this means for our understanding of prehistoric life? #Science #ArizonaFossils #Paleontology