Discovery of North America's Oldest Flying Reptile in Arizona

July 18, 2025
Discovery of North America's Oldest Flying Reptile in Arizona

Scientists have uncovered what is believed to be the oldest-known flying reptile in North America, a significant paleontological finding made at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. The fossils, which date back approximately 209 million years to the Triassic Period, were revealed during a study led by Ben Kligman, a paleontologist at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. The discovery, published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on July 9, 2025, includes an assemblage of vertebrate species that offers a glimpse into an ancient ecosystem transitioning during a pivotal era of Earth's history.

The unearthed fossils, part of a wider trove of 16 vertebrate species, include seven that are previously unknown to science. Among these finds is the newly identified pterosaur, named Eotephradactylus mcintireae, which is estimated to have been the size of a small seagull. This pterosaur is believed to have hunted fish in the rivers that flowed through a thriving tropical ecosystem characterized by volcanic ash deposits. Kligman noted, "Although dinosaurs are found in contemporaneous rocks from Arizona and New Mexico, they were not part of this ecosystem that we are studying. This is peculiar and may have to do with dinosaurs preferring to live in other types of environments."

The Triassic Period, which followed Earth's largest mass extinction approximately 252 million years ago, was marked by the emergence of various new species while many ancient lineages faced extinction. The fossils found in Arizona present a snapshot of an ecosystem flourishing just above the equator on the supercontinent Pangaea, which was gradually breaking apart into the continents we recognize today. The pterosaur, with a wingspan of about three feet (one meter) and a skull approximately four inches (10 cm) long, displayed unique adaptations for its predatory lifestyle. It possessed curved fangs for catching fish and blade-like teeth for slicing its prey, indicating a specialized diet.

In addition to Eotephradactylus, the fossil assemblage includes early frogs, lizard-like reptiles, and one of the earliest known turtles, which all illustrate a vibrant tapestry of life from a time when dinosaurs had not yet taken dominance. This discovery not only sheds light on the diversity of Triassic fauna but also highlights the complex ecological dynamics in play before the rise of the dinosaurs.

As Kligman explained, "The site captures the transition to more modern terrestrial vertebrate communities," underscoring the evolutionary significance of these findings. The discovery of Eotephradactylus mcintireae, which translates to "ash-winged dawn goddess," recognizes both its geological context and its place in the lineage of pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight.

This remarkable find at Petrified Forest National Park underscores the importance of continued paleontological research in understanding the history of life on Earth and the intricate relationships that have shaped the planet’s biological legacy. Researchers anticipate that further excavations in the region may yield additional insights into the ecosystems of the Triassic Period and the evolutionary pathways that led to the dominance of dinosaurs in the Jurassic.

Advertisement

Fake Ad Placeholder (Ad slot: YYYYYYYYYY)

Tags

Petrified Forest National ParkEotephradactylus mcintireaeTriassic Periodpterosaur discoveryBen KligmanSmithsonian Institutionfossil findingsancient ecosystemspaleontologyNorth America fossilsvolcanic ash depositsprehistoric reptilesearly vertebratesdinosaurssupercontinent Pangaeafossil researchancient biodiversityhistorical ecosystemsevolutionary significancevertebrate paleontologyancient amphibiansearly turtlesfossil assemblagespecies extinctionmodern vertebrate communitiesancient predatorsecological dynamicsscientific discoverygeological contextevolutionary pathways

Advertisement

Fake Ad Placeholder (Ad slot: ZZZZZZZZZZ)