Flying dragon-like dinosaur found in Australia | He would have lived 105 million years ago, was carnivorous and had a set of 40 molars

Australian scientists have discovered a new species of pterosaur which would have unique characteristics that resemble the mythical dragon fantastic stories. It is said to have a twenty foot wing, 40 sharp teeth, and a circular ridge under its massive jaw.

The creature, which is believed to have lived 105 million years ago, is the largest flying reptile ever to be found on mainland Australia and was first described in an article published Monday in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The Australian pterosaur fossils they are exceptionally rare. Since the discovery of the continent’s first pterosaur some 40 years ago, fewer than 20 specimens have been listed.

“It’s the closest thing in real life to a dragon”

Shawi Thapunngaka, baptized the prehistoric beast, “It’s the closest thing in real life to a dragon “pointed out Richards, who is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Queensland. “His jaw wasn’t developed for eating broccoli,” Richards added. “His flight would have been a terrifying sight. It would only have a wingspan of a few meters less than a hang-glider. “

A carnivorous flying dinosaur

The description of this pletosaurus was based on the analysis of a jawbone fossil discovered in June 2011 by local Len Shaw in the village of Wanamara, in a remote northern part of the eastern Australian state of Queensland.

“Due to its morphology, it is very likely that it is adapted to a carnivorous lifestyle. Its teeth were probably designed more to hold back slippery fish, ”the scientists commented.

Scientists calculate that this dinosaur had a skull of about one meter and was armed with a set of 40 molars which allowed them to feed on the large fish that inhabited the ancient sea of ​​Eromanga during the Cretaceous Period, a period that began 145 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago.

Shawi Thapunngaka, considered the first animal with bones in its back to fly and they were perfectly suited for propulsion flight, they had relatively hollow pieces of bone with thin walls, according to the scientists.

Steve Salisbury, co-author of the article and Richard’s thesis supervisor, pointed out the enormous size of the bony crest of the lower jaw, which was presumably similar to the upper jaw of this pletosaurus, the largest described in Australia at this day.

According to the scientist “These ridges probably played a role in the flight dynamics of these creatures.”

The name of this flying dinosaur comes from ngaka (nga-ga) and thapun (ta-boon), which in the language of the aborigines of Wanamara mean respectively “mouth” and “spear”, while shawy derives from the surname of his discoverer.