A newly identified species of pterosaur discovered in Arizona has pushed back the timeline for such creatures in North America by millions of years. The fossil, believed to be around 209 million years old, marks the earliest evidence of a flying reptile ever found on the continent.
The partial jawbone was originally uncovered in 2011 at Petrified Forest National Park. At the time, the fossil’s significance wasn’t fully understood. Recent examinations by scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, however, revealed that it belonged to a previously unknown species of pterosaur—prehistoric reptiles that lived during the same era as early dinosaurs.
Arizona pterosaur fossil offers rare glimpse into the distant past
Researchers named the new species Eotephradactylus mcintireae, which roughly translates to “ash-winged dawn goddess.” The name pays tribute to the volcanic ash that helped preserve the fossilized jawbone in what was once an ancient riverbed. This type of ash is thought to have buried the animal quickly, creating ideal conditions for fossilization.
The discovery was detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to paleontologists, pterosaur fossils from the Triassic period—especially in North America—are extremely rare. Their bones were thin and hollow, making them fragile and unlikely to survive the fossilization process.
Dr. Virginia Kligman, one of the lead scientists on the project, emphasized how unusual it is to find even partial remains from this period. The preservation of this jawbone is remarkable. It gives us direct evidence of early pterosaur life in North America, a place where such fossils are almost never found, Kligman explained.
Life alongside extinct giants
The fossil site, once a flowing river in the center of the supercontinent Pangaea, holds more than just this flying reptile. Over the years, scientists have recovered an entire collection of remains from the area, including bones, teeth, fish scales, and even fossilized droppings.
Together, these finds reveal a vivid picture of an ancient world filled with both extinct giants and the early ancestors of today’s animals. Amphibians the size of crocodiles, as well as armored reptiles related to early crocodile species, lived alongside frogs and turtles—groups that have endured through the ages.
Examination of the reptile’s teeth offered clues about its diet. The worn tips suggest that it likely fed on armored fish, which were common in the rivers of that era. These fish were covered in hard, bony scales, which may have contributed to the wear found on the pterosaur’s teeth.
Scientists say the fossil bed offers an extraordinary window into a period of major evolutionary change. Some species present at the site would eventually disappear, while others gave rise to animals still found today.
This site captures a turning point in Earth’s history, Kligman explained. It shows us which species survived, which didn’t, and what the world looked like before dinosaurs and birds took to the skies.