Overview

• On July 7, researchers published the formal description of Eotephradactylus mcintireae in PNAS, honoring preparator Suzanne McIntire with the name meaning “ash-winged dawn goddess.”
• Volcanic ash from the Owl Rock Member dates the species to about 209 million years ago, making it the earliest pterosaur recorded in North America.
• At seagull size, the reptile’s varied teeth and worn tips point to a specialized diet of armored fish in Late Triassic river channels.
• Excavations have uncovered over 1,200 fossils representing at least 16 vertebrate groups, including early turtles, frogs, crocodile-like reptiles and giant amphibians.
• Scientists are analyzing additional specimens from the bonebed to refine understanding of early pterosaur ecology and vertebrate communities on Pangaea.