Quck answer
During the Jurassic period in England, there were flying reptiles called pterosaurs that had fangs. These creatures had wingspans that ranged from 3 to 10 meters and were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight. They were also the largest animals to ever fly, weighing up to 250 kg. One of the most famous pterosaurs was the Pterodactylus, which had a long, toothed beak and a wingspan of about 1.5 meters. These creatures were not dinosaurs, but they coexisted with them and were an important part of the ecosystem.
Extinct Animals
Around 163 million years ago, a flying creature with long teeth died in what is now southern England. One of its fossilized lower jawbones was discovered, eventually making its way to London’s Natural History Museum. However, it wasn’t until a recent paper was published in November 2018 that the significance of the jawbone was realized. The bone belonged to a previously unknown species of flying reptile called Klobiodon rochei, which used fangs to capture its prey, much like a modern seagull.
The Story of the Teeth
The paper, published in Acta Paleontologica Electronica, was the Ph.D. thesis of Michael O’Sullivan, a paleontologist at the University of Portsmouth, and his supervisor David Martill. It provides an overview of the various pterosaurs that inhabited Great Britain 166 to 168 million years ago during the middle of the Jurassic period. Pterosaurs were a highly successful order of flying reptiles that coexisted with non-avian dinosaurs before a mass extinction event 66 million years ago.
The Stonesfield Slate, or Tanyton Limestone Formation, in Oxfordshire and Glocestershire has yielded over 200 pterosaur bones from the same time period. O’Sullivan examined the newly discovered jawbone while combing through the collections at London’s Natural History Museum. The jawbone measures 5.5 inches (14 centimeters) long and is believed to be 88 percent complete, although the back end is missing. The jaw has a diverse assortment of teeth, including some that are needle-like and stretch up to 1 inch (2.6 centimeters) long.
O’Sullivan believes that the unique arrangement of Klobiodon’s teeth formed a grab or cage to help catch prey. Only one other Jurassic pterosaur, Dorygnathus, had a similar arrangement, but its teeth were much smaller, and its jaw was shallower.
The infamous fossilized lower jawbone fossil was hidden away in a drawer in London’s Natural History Museum.
Michael Sullivan
A Mysterious Past
The unique dental structure of Klobiodon led O’Sullivan and Martill to realize they were looking at a new species of pterosaur. The creature was described in detail in their paper, and its name, Klobiodon rochei, means “cage tooth” in Greek, while its species name is a tribute to comic book artist Nick Roche.
O’Sullivan and Martill are not the first scientists to have seen the amazing little jawbone. Its origins are unknown and were first documented in 1878 in a list of acquisitions made by the Natural History Museum. The list stated that the fossil was donated by the naturalist Robert Marsham, who had died 81 years earlier. The fossil was identified as a Rhamphocephalus in 1888, but this genus has since been deemed scientifically invalid. The only information we have about Klobiodon comes from its single tooth-lined jawbone, although there is another fossil that may represent a second Klobiodon specimen. The bone of the second specimen lacks teeth, making it difficult to confirm its identity.
Pterosaurs are divided into two groups, and Klobiodon’s dentition indicates that it belonged to the Rhamphorhynchoids. By comparing Klobiodon’s isolated jaw to other rhamphorhynchoid fossils, O’Sullivan and Martill estimate that a mature Klobiodon would have had a wingspan of 6.5 feet (2 meters). During the time of Klobiodon, sea levels were higher and Great Britain was a group of tropical islands. Rhamphorhynchoids found in coastal environments had fish bones in their stomachs, and it is probable that Klobiodon fed on fish, squid, and other marine creatures using its cage-like jaw. It is also possible that it hunted small dinosaurs and early mammals.
Stonesfield Slate deposits are well-known for their ammonite and marine reptile fossils, but pterosaur bones have not received as much attention. O’Sullivan and Martill’s study has demonstrated that Stonesfield’s flying reptile population was more diverse than previously thought. By examining Klobiodon and its winged contemporaries, we can expand our understanding of pterosaur evolution. Megalosaurus, a large carnivorous dinosaur, was discovered in a Stonesfield Slate quarry and became the first dinosaur to be given a modern scientific name in 1824.
FAQ
1. What were fanged, flying reptiles?
Fanged, flying reptiles were a group of extinct reptiles called pterosaurs that lived during the Mesozoic era, which lasted from about 252 million to 66 million years ago. They were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight, and ranged in size from small birds to large planes.
2. When did fanged, flying reptiles live?
Fanged, flying reptiles lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, which lasted from about 201 million to 66 million years ago. They were contemporaries of dinosaurs and shared their environment, although they occupied different ecological niches.
3. What did fanged, flying reptiles eat?
Fanged, flying reptiles had a variety of diets depending on their size and morphology. Some species had long, slender jaws with needle-like teeth that were suited for catching fish, while others had broad, robust jaws with blunt teeth that were used to crush hard-shelled prey such as mollusks and crustaceans. Some species may have even fed on small dinosaurs and mammals.
4. Where were fanged, flying reptiles found?
Fanged, flying reptiles were found all over the world, although the best-preserved specimens are from the Solnhofen limestone deposits in Germany and the Santana Formation in Brazil. In England, fanged, flying reptiles have been found in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation in Dorset and the Solnhofen Limestone in Dorset.
5. How did fanged, flying reptiles fly?
Fanged, flying reptiles used a membrane of skin called a patagium to create a wing that stretched from their elongated fourth finger to their ankle. They had a lightweight, hollow bone structure that allowed them to be agile in the air, and a keeled sternum that provided attachment points for powerful flight muscles. Some species also had a long tail that was used for stabilization during flight.
6. What caused the extinction of fanged, flying reptiles?
The exact cause of the extinction of fanged, flying reptiles is still unknown, but it is thought to have been a combination of factors. Climate change, competition with birds, and changes in vegetation may have all played a role in their demise.
7. How do fanged, flying reptiles differ from modern birds?
Fanged, flying reptiles differ from modern birds in several ways. They had a membrane wing instead of feathers, and a long, toothed snout instead of a beak. They also had a different bone structure, with elongated fourth fingers that supported the patagium, and a reduced fifth finger. Despite these differences, fanged, flying reptiles are considered to be the closest relatives of birds.
8. Are there any living descendants of fanged, flying reptiles?
No, there are no living descendants of fanged, flying reptiles. Pterosaurs went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period along with the non-avian dinosaurs.
9. How do scientists study fanged, flying reptiles?
Scientists study fanged, flying reptiles using a variety of methods, including fossil analysis, biomechanical modeling, and CT scanning. By studying the anatomy and biomechanics of pterosaurs, scientists can learn more about the evolution of powered flight and the ecological niches occupied by these animals.
10. What is the importance of studying fanged, flying reptiles?
Studying fanged, flying reptiles is important for understanding the evolution of vertebrate flight and the ecological roles played by these animals in the Mesozoic era. By studying pterosaurs, scientists can gain insights into the adaptations necessary for powered flight and the factors that led to the extinction of these animals at the end of the Cretaceous period.
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