76-million-year-old mystery: Crocodile-like predator left its mark on this fossil
A fossil unearthed in the badlands of Alberta, Canada, has offered a rare glimpse into the interactions between ancient reptiles that lived over 76 million years ago. Researchers studying the remains of a young flying reptile have found what appears to be clear evidence of a crocodile-like predator bite, making it an unusual and scientifically valuable discovery from the Late Cretaceous period.
Bone with a bite:
Pterosaur fossil
found with tooth mark
The fossil, a small neck bone of a juvenile pterosaur, was discovered in July 2023 during a field course led by Dr Brian Pickles from the University of Reading. After a detailed analysis, scientists identified a puncture wound on the bone, which they believe was caused by the tooth of a crocodilian species from the same era.
The research was conducted jointly by scientists from the University of Reading, the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (Canada), and the University of New England (Australia).
According to the team, micro-CT scans confirmed the mark was not the result of post-burial damage or fossilisation but a bite that likely occurred during the animal's lifetime or shortly after its death.
Fragile fossil, uncommon evidence
Pterosaur bones, due to their lightweight and hollow structure, rarely preserve well. This makes any fossilised sign of damage or interaction with other animals a rare find. As quoted by the BBC, according to Dr Caleb Brown from the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, 'Pterosaur bones are very delicate, so finding fossils where another animal has clearly taken a bite is exceptionally uncommon.'
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Dr Brown, who is the lead author of the research paper, further said, 'This specimen being a juvenile makes it even rarer.'
The juvenile is believed to have belonged to the Azhdarchid group of pterosaurs. Researchers estimate this individual had a wingspan of about 2 metres. In contrast, adults of the same group were significantly larger, reaching wingspans of up to 10 metres.
Insight into Cretaceous ecosystems
Dr Brian Pickles, under whose supervision the discovery was made, highlighted the importance of such findings.
'Bite traces help to document species interactions from this period,' he said, as quoted by the BBC.
He also explained that while it remains uncertain whether the young pterosaur was alive at the time of the bite, the fossil does indicate interaction between crocodilians and pterosaurs. 'We can't say if the pterosaur was alive or dead when it was bitten, but the specimen shows that crocodilians occasionally preyed on, or scavenged, juvenile pterosaurs in prehistoric Alberta over 70 million years ago,' Dr Pickles said, as quoted by the BBC.
First of its kind in the North American fossil record
This discovery is being noted as the first confirmed instance in North America of a crocodile-like predator feeding on a pterosaur. The scientific community regards it as a rare and significant addition to existing knowledge of Mesozoic-era life.
The fossil provides a rare and direct record of how prehistoric creatures interacted within their ecosystems, especially involving species that rarely leave behind such detailed evidence.
The study was published in the Journal of Palaeontology and adds a meaningful layer to our understanding of predator-prey dynamics in the Late Cretaceous period.
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