New Species of Bird-Like Reptiles Discovered in African Sahara, Study Reveals

Researchers have revealed so-called pterosaurs that lived in the northern part of the African continent over 100 million years ago.

A team of researchers form the UK, the US and Morocco headed by David Martill, a paleontologist at the University of Portsmouth, have identified three new species of flying reptiles that are believed to have inhabited prehistoric Morocco.

A new study, published in the journal Cretaceous Research, revealed that the pterosaurs had wingspans of about three to four metres, judging from chunks of jaws and teeth found in the middle-cretaceous era Kem Kem Beds in modern-day Morocco.

“Many of the predators, including the toothed pterosaurs, preyed on a superabundance of fish,” the spokesperson suggested. “These aerial fishers snatched up their prey while on the wing, using a murderous-looking set of large spike-like teeth that formed a highly effective tooth grab. Large pterosaurs such as these would have been able to forage over vast distances, similar to present-day birds such as condors and albatrosses”.

One of the three species, named anhanguera, has reportedly been previously identified in Brazil, while another called ornithocheirus was earlier found in England and mid-Asia.

Sourse: sputniknews.com