PADorygnathus consumed small fish, consistent with the most recent researchPrehistoric flying reptiles lived on a nutrition of small fish and squid, the most recent medical analysis has proven.Researcher Dr Roy Smith mentioned abdomen contents found out in fossils had been the “smoking gun” proof for the diets.The findings had been made by means of scientists from the College of Portsmouth and the Staatliches Museum fur Naturkunde Stuttgart in Germany and printed within the Magazine of Vertebrate Paleontology.Pterosaurs lived 182 million years in the past and had wingspans of as much as 12m (39ft).The group analysed the fossilised abdomen contents of 2 pterosaur species, dorygnathus and campylognathoides.They lived right through the early Jurassic length, and had been present in modern day south-west Germany.They discovered that dorygnathus ate small fish for its final meal whilst campylognathoides ate prehistoric squid.
PA…while campylognathoides consumed squidDr Smith, from Portsmouth College’s College of Setting and Lifestyles Sciences, mentioned: “It’s extremely uncommon to search out 180 million-year-old pterosaurs preserved with their abdomen contents, and gives ‘smoking gun’ proof for pterosaur diets.”The invention gives a novel and engaging glimpse into how those historical creatures lived, what they ate, and the ecosystems they thrived in thousands and thousands of years in the past.”
PAThe group analysed the fossilised abdomen contents of dorygnathus present in modern day south-west GermanyDr Samuel Cooper, additionally from the College of Portsmouth, mentioned the tummy contents instructed scientists “how the animals interacted with every different”.He added: “For me, this proof of squid stays within the abdomen of campylognathoides is subsequently specifically thrilling.”Till now, we tended to suppose that it consumed fish, very similar to dorygnathus, wherein we discovered small fish bones as abdomen contents.”The truth that those two pterosaur species ate other prey presentations that they had been most probably specialized for various diets.”This allowed dorygnathus and campylognathoides to coexist in the similar habitat with out a lot festival for meals between the 2 species.”
