New Fossil Discovery Illuminates Pterosaur Evolutionary Path

The Skiphosoura bavarica fossil provides crucial insights into the transition from early flying reptiles to giant pterodactyloids.

The Skiphosoura bavarica fossil, found in Germany, is remarkably well-preserved in three dimensions, unlike typical flattened pterosaur fossils.
Skiphosoura bridges a key evolutionary gap, showing features between early darwinopterans and later pterodactyloids.
The new fossil reveals changes in wing bone ratios and tail structure that may have enabled the evolution of giant wingspans.
Skiphosoura's features suggest it might have adapted to forest environments, differing from many coastal pterosaurs.
Researchers have reconstructed a more complete evolutionary sequence, connecting early pterosaurs to the massive pterodactyloids.