Tiny pterodactyl fossil found

Paleontologists recently discovered a fossilized "mini pterodactyl" in China. The reptile, scientific name Nemicolopterus crypticus, was about the size of a sparrow and lived 120 million years ago. From National Geographic:

Pterosaurs, which had wings formed of skin rather than feathers, first appeared about 215 million years ago and are believed to be the first flying vertebrates...

A team of Chinese and Brazilian paleontologists found the N. crypticus fossil preserved in the fine siltstone of an ancient waterway in northeastern China.

The tiny pterosaur was a small, toothless reptile with curved foot bones that are similar to those of birds.

Link

[#1 posted by Beryllium , February 13, 2008 9:34 AM]

jurassic hobbit pirate parrots.

[#2 posted by mujadaddy , February 13, 2008 9:52 AM]

Are they sure it's not just a baby?

[#3 posted by Lauren O , February 13, 2008 10:03 AM]

I want one!

[#4 posted by ndollak , February 13, 2008 3:44 PM]

Cute! Re: #2, the article is kind of superficial for my tastes, and your question about whether it's a baby is a good one. However, palaeontologists routinely run MRI scans on fossils nowadays to survey underlying bone structures. This would yield clues as to the age of the individual creature at the time of death. It's highly doubtful that an announcement like this would be made regarding a fossil that had not been carefully studied beforehand. (Unlike the days of Copely and Marsh, who were notorious for rushing things in attempts to outdo each other, fossils are often examined for months, sometimes years, before the official unveiling.)

[#5 posted by klactodjango , February 13, 2008 9:29 PM]

petrie!

[#6 posted by Bazilisk , February 14, 2008 9:18 AM]

Aaaaw! Can I pet it?

This pterodactyl won't carry me off to feed to its young like those OTHER ones. XD

[#7 posted by EthylCannes , February 20, 2008 6:33 AM]

The painting with the Discovery News article was so cute I was forced to submit it to Cute Overload.