A study printed in journal Zookeys tells an amazing fact regarding the distribution and range of pterosaurs who belong to the Azhdarchidae family at the end of the Cretaceous period.
The word Azhdarchidan pterosaurs came from a Persian word Azdarha which means dragon. The group comprises of a number of large animals generally known as pterosaurs. It has a wingspan of almost 40 feet. These animals survived longer than the other toothy pterodactyloids and ruled the skies of the entire world till 60 years.
According to Dr. Alexander Averiano, the author of the study stated that this change in dominance from toothed to toothless pterodactyloids evidently demonstrates some basic modification in Cretaceous ecosystem which researchers are unable to understand yet.
This group is not an easy thing in terms of research. The researchers have a small number of remnants left for their study. Most of the fossils are in sedimentary deposits which is famous as Konservant-Lagerstatten. The fossils in Lagerstatten are conserved with the help of low oxygen environment which is rather suitable for bones and soft tissues. Unluckily these deposits are exceptional for the Late Cretaceous period.
“Azhdarchidae currently represent a real nightmare for paleontologists: most taxa are known from few fragmentary bones, which often do not overlap between named taxa, the few articulated skeletons are poorly preserved, and some of the best available material has remained undescribed for forty years.” said Dr Averianov.
Regardless of the shortage of fossils, several are discovered which illustrates that they played a vital role in the ecology of the system of the Cretaceous period.
Deborah Campbell
