Caiuajara dobruskiiCaiuajara was precocial (meaning the young are relatively mature and mobile). Since the adult skeletal size (other than the head) wasn't much different from the juveniles', Caiuajara had the wingspan needed to take flight at a very young age.
As for the head, it had an enormous shark fin-shaped crest on the snout that has caused many observers to liken it to a butterfly wing. According to the researchers Caiuajara'sCaiuajara is to date the geologically youngest known tapejarid as well as being the most southern one known (it is also the first pterosaur of any kind found in southern Brazil).
Further, Manzig and his colleagues think that this expansion of their known range is an indication that tapejarids had a global distribution.
According to Kellner Caiuajara inhabited the area for quite some time rather than being temporary residents. "The presence of three main levels of accumulation in a section of less than one meter suggests that this region was home to pterosaur populations for an extended period of time."
As indicated, the multiple levels indicate that they didn't die all at once yet the cause of death remains unknown. The researchers did state that similarities with dinosaur drought-related mortality are striking but leave room for the possibility that sand storms might have been responsible.
Finally, the fact that so many were unearthed in a single bone bed is seen as the strongest evidence so far that pterosaurs were social animals, living a gregarious lifestyle in colonies. Earlier discovery of the filter-feeding Pterodaustro in Patagonia, Argentina that lived 105 mya and scattered pterosaur bones found in northern Chile provided the first evidence of pterosaurs living together in flocks
Further Reading:
Discovery of a Rare Pterosaur Bone Bed in a Cretaceous Desert with Insights on Ontogeny and Behavior of Flying Reptiles Abstract & Paper
New Flying Reptile Found in "Unprecedented" Pterosaur Boneyard
Caiuajara dobruskii: New Pterosaur Species Discovered in Brazil
New species of flying pterosaur: Bones from nearly 50 ancient flying reptiles discovered
'Butterfly-headed' flying reptiles were social say paleontologists
New Species of Flying Pterosaur Found in Brazilian 'Graveyard'
Fossils of 'Butterfly-Headed' Flying Reptiles Discovered in Brazil
Caiuajara Dobruskii: 47 Ancient Flying Reptiles Of New Species Discovered
Ancient Butterfly-Headed Flying Reptile Discovered
As for the head, it had an enormous shark fin-shaped crest on the snout that has caused many observers to liken it to a butterfly wing. According to the researchers Caiuajara'sCaiuajara is to date the geologically youngest known tapejarid as well as being the most southern one known (it is also the first pterosaur of any kind found in southern Brazil).
Further, Manzig and his colleagues think that this expansion of their known range is an indication that tapejarids had a global distribution.
According to Kellner Caiuajara inhabited the area for quite some time rather than being temporary residents. "The presence of three main levels of accumulation in a section of less than one meter suggests that this region was home to pterosaur populations for an extended period of time."
As indicated, the multiple levels indicate that they didn't die all at once yet the cause of death remains unknown. The researchers did state that similarities with dinosaur drought-related mortality are striking but leave room for the possibility that sand storms might have been responsible.
Finally, the fact that so many were unearthed in a single bone bed is seen as the strongest evidence so far that pterosaurs were social animals, living a gregarious lifestyle in colonies. Earlier discovery of the filter-feeding Pterodaustro in Patagonia, Argentina that lived 105 mya and scattered pterosaur bones found in northern Chile provided the first evidence of pterosaurs living together in flocks
Caiuajara dobruskii3.jpg
artist reconstruction indicating what the crest was like
Caiuajara dobruskii1.jpg
Holotype on left with a paratype on right
Caiuajara dobruskii2.jpg
An indication of some of the material recovered
artist reconstruction indicating what the crest was like
Caiuajara dobruskii1.jpg
Holotype on left with a paratype on right
Caiuajara dobruskii2.jpg
An indication of some of the material recovered
Further Reading:
Discovery of a Rare Pterosaur Bone Bed in a Cretaceous Desert with Insights on Ontogeny and Behavior of Flying Reptiles Abstract & Paper
New Flying Reptile Found in "Unprecedented" Pterosaur Boneyard
Caiuajara dobruskii: New Pterosaur Species Discovered in Brazil
New species of flying pterosaur: Bones from nearly 50 ancient flying reptiles discovered
'Butterfly-headed' flying reptiles were social say paleontologists
New Species of Flying Pterosaur Found in Brazilian 'Graveyard'
Fossils of 'Butterfly-Headed' Flying Reptiles Discovered in Brazil
Caiuajara Dobruskii: 47 Ancient Flying Reptiles Of New Species Discovered
Ancient Butterfly-Headed Flying Reptile Discovered
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