Photo of specimen LF 2809, a new large ctenochasmatid pterosaur under a mixture of UV A, B and C lighting. Scale bar is 10 cm. Credit: René Lauer
Long time ESCONI members Bruce and Rene Lauer of sent us a message to highlight some new research they've been working on. They're both listed as authors on a paper that describes a new large ctenochasmatid pterosaur from the Solnhofen of Germany. The animal, Petrodactyle wellnhoferi, lived during the Jurassic about 145 million years ago, when southern Germany was an archipelago of islands. The name translates as ‘Wellnhofer’s stone-finger’ which honors legendary German palaeontologist Peter Wellnhofer who spent his career working on German pterosaurs. Pterosaurs and other animals like Archaeopteryx have been found in the Solnhofen for a long time. The specimen is very nearly complete. Lead author was David Hone of the Queen Mary University of London. Here is the press release from Queen Mary University. The paper can be found in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica.
Many pterosaurs are known with bony crests which they used primarily as sexual signals to other members of the species, but Petrodactyle has by far the largest crest even seen in a ctenochasmatid. Dr David Hone of Queen Mary University of London was the lead author on the study said, “Big though this crest is, we know that these pterosaurs had skin-like extensions attached to it, so in life Petrodactyle would have had an even larger crest”.
The details of the specimen are especially clear under UV light which helps show the difference between the bones and the rock in which they are embedded, which under natural light are a very similar colour. René Lauer of the Lauer Foundation, an author on the study said, “The use of UV Induced Fluorescence digital photography provided the ability to discern fine structures small bones and provided additional information regarding the structures of the bony crest which aided in the interpretations and conclusions of this unique new species”.
Petrodactyle was unusually large too. It has a wingspan of around 2 meters, but it was still an older ‘teenager’ by pterosaur standards and would have been even larger as a fully mature animal. Even so, it is one of the largest pterosaurs known from the Late Jurassic period. Bruce Lauer of the Lauer Foundation, an author on the study said “The specimen was located in a quarry which is producing scientifically important fossils that provide additional insights into Late Jurassic Pterosaurs. This research is a great example of the benefits of cooperation between amateur collectors, commercial fossil dealers, our Foundation and research scientists to advance science.”
Note, the Lauer Foundation provides education and research support to a variety of people and organizations around the world, with an emphasis on Paleontology.
The Lauer Foundation for Paleontology, Science and Education (PSE) is passionate about promoting the cooperation and collaboration between scientists, individuals and commercial fossil collectors for the advancement of science. The Lauer Foundation PSE is an active operating foundation and the Foundation's collections are curated using museum standards including the Specify Software, collection management system, and storage of specimens in a museum grade climate controlled environment. The Foundation adheres to responsible acquisition practices, requiring proper provenance for additions to the Foundation collections. The Foundation actively participates in the study, analysis, documentation and research of its fossil collections with the international scientific community.
