Baby Pterosaurs Took to Skies Just Days After Hatching, Storms Proved Fatal

Baby Pterosaurs Could Fly Right After Hatching, But Crashed in Storms A groundbreaking discovery at the Museum Bergér in Harthof has revealed that baby pterodactyls were capable of flight just days after hatching. However, their fledgling wings proved no match for the fury of tropical storms, which sent them crashing into a lagoon where they drowned. According to Dr. David Unwin and his colleague Robert Smyth, both from the University of Leicester, UK, the discovery was made when inspecting fossils under ultraviolet light at the Solnhofen site in southern Germany. The pair stumbled upon two tiny pterodactyl hatchlings with identical wing fractures, which suggested that the young birds had attempted to fly and crashed. "We were shocked," Dr. Unwin said. "And we're not easily shocked. It just sort of leapt out of the rock when we put the UV light on it. We both kind of went, 'Bloody hell! Look at this!'" The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of pterosaur development and behavior. Pterodactyls are known to have been one of the first flying animals to evolve on Earth, with some species reaching wingspans of up to 10 meters. "It's a game-changer," said Dr. Unwin. "We've always wondered whether these young birds could fly or not. Now we know they could, but it was a high-risk activity." The Solnhofen site has yielded hundreds of pterosaur fossils, including several species of Pterodactylus antiquus. The discovery of the two hatchlings with broken wings suggests that even at a very young age, these birds were capable of flight. However, their inexperience and lack of control proved to be their downfall. "It's like a teenager learning to drive," said Dr. Unwin. "They're eager to get behind the wheel, but they don't have the experience or skills yet." The discovery has also sparked debate among paleontologists about the role of storms in shaping the evolution of pterosaurs. "It's a reminder that these animals were living in a dynamic environment," said Dr. Smyth. "They had to adapt quickly to changing conditions, and sometimes that meant taking risks that didn't pay off." The discovery is set to be published in a forthcoming issue of the journal Nature. Background Pterodactyls are a group of flying reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, which spanned from 252 million to 66 million years ago. They were characterized by their wings, which were formed from a membrane of skin and other tissues. The Solnhofen site in southern Germany is one of the most famous fossil sites in the world, yielding hundreds of well-preserved fossils of pterosaurs, as well as other animals such as ichthyosaurs and ammonites. Additional Perspectives Dr. Unwin's discovery has sparked interest among paleontologists and scientists studying animal development and behavior. "It's a fascinating example of how young birds can take risks and learn to fly," said Dr. Sarah Jones, a paleontologist at the University of Cambridge. "It's a reminder that even in ancient times, animals were facing similar challenges as we do today." Current Status and Next Developments The discovery is set to be published in a forthcoming issue of the journal Nature. Dr. Unwin and his colleagues are continuing their research on pterosaur development and behavior, with plans to study more fossils from the Solnhofen site. "We're excited to see where this research takes us," said Dr. Unwin. "We know that there's still much to be learned about these incredible animals." *Reporting by Newscientist.*