Scientists Recently Found North America’s Oldest Species of Pterosaur

Scientists just found a new species of pterosaur, said to have lived 200 million years ago. Only now, with modern scanning technology, have researchers discovered that it was a new species. One of the fossils of this creature was unearthed at a remote bonebed in Petrified Forest National Park. The fossil belongs to a newly discovered species of pterosaur–a reptile that flew above dinosaurs 200 million years ago.

Scientists have named this species of pterosaur Eotephradactylus mcintireae, meaning “ash-winged dawn goddess”. Scientists believe this species to be about 209 million years old, making it the oldest known species of pterosaur.

The prey of these pterosaurs were most likely primitive fish with hard body armor. This is because they have high amounts of wear at the tips of their teeth. Dr. Kligman, a researcher, explained that the fossil beds in which the fossils remained have preserved evidence of evolutionary change over 200 million years. The pterosaur is small enough to comfortably perch on a person’s shoulders.

Among the findings was the fossil of an ancient turtle with spikey armour and a shell that could fit in a shoebox. Many prehistoric plants were also discovered, providing insight into the ecosystem of North America 200 million years ago.

Pterosaurs are a distinct species, separate from dinosaurs, contrary to what most people think. Pterosaurs ranged greatly in size, some as small as paper airplanes, while some were as big as planes. Pterosaurs went extinct around 66 million years ago.

This finding as well as other findings help us understand what life was like millions of years ago before humans walked on this planet.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx2zzn53pqo

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025/07/07/pterosaur-north-america-pterodactyl-eotephradactylus/