Ancient ‘dragons’ were the first gliding reptiles on Earth
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While most ancient reptiles crawled, scuttled, or leaped through their prehistoric habitats, one stealthy creature opted for an aerial technique: gliding.
small “dragon-like” Coelurosaurus eribensis (see-luh-roh-SAW’-rah-vus eh-lih-VEN’-sis) A wing-like structure that uses a pair of patagials (thin membranes extending from the trunk to the forelimbs) to move from canopy to canopy. formed. , according to a new study published online on Friday (September 9) Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (opens in new tab).
Researchers at the French National Museum of Natural History in Paris called the creature “the world’s first gliding reptile,” according to a statement. Since the animal’s first fossil was discovered in 1907, paleontologists have wondered how the species, which is about 4 inches (10 centimeters) long and about the size of a human hand, evolved and was later found in forests. I’ve been working on how it came to glide through enclosed habitats. Permian (260-252 million years ago). But now, researchers think they’ve solved the mystery, using clues about tree canopies in this unique reptile’s ancient ecosystem.
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Valentin Buffa, a paleontologist at the Center for Paleontological Research and the French National Museum of Natural History and lead author of the study, said: “The resulting photograph shows that the trees are sufficiently dense and the treetops are overlapping. It’s a picture of a forest where there are people.” “This allowed the animals to move around in the trees without having to get down to the ground where the predators were.” Over time, this may have driven the evolution of gliding adaptations, Buffer told Live Science in an email.
“C. eribensis It was probably a great climber, able to move up and down tree trunks with ease, and had the ability to jump and slide between branches and trees, eliminating the need to get down to the ground,” he added.
The authors of the study speculated how the gliding reptile might have moved by reconstructing its skeleton using fossils from three individuals collected over the years at different locations. . The most complete Madagascar skeleton of these “was sufficient to reconstruct almost all skeletons (about 90%) of this species,” Buffa said.
Prior to this reconstruction, researchers were uncertain about the exact placement of patadial in the animal’s body. In the new study, the authors found that the wing-like structures are located low on the trunk and most likely extend from the gastrointestinal tract, the dermal bone between the sternum and the pelvis, or from the musculature of the trunk. proposed to be high. Scientists determined this based on the location of the bones. This is because none of the specimens preserved patadial soft tissue.
Researchers also compared the proposed locations C. elivensis’ patagials to those of Draco, a genus of modern gliding lizards. Often referred to as “flying” dragon,” Draco Lizards live mainly in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. Scientists reported: C. eribensis “The glider was positioned lower on the abdomen than in modern gliding lizards,” Draco said in a statement.of The patadial is supported by long, flexible ribs.
modern Draco Lizards are not closely associated with antiquity C. eribensisbut the two probably evolved to have similar body types convergent evolutionor if animals in similar environments develop similar traits on their own.
for example, Draco, C. eribensis It probably also became a more skilled glider, as it had “sharp, curved claws” that allowed it to grasp branches and tree trunks while moving from tree to tree.
“Based on the known behavior of Dracowe suggest C. eribensis I was able to bend my wrists backwards and engage my fingernails between the scales on the wings,” Buffa explained. [pliability] Move your arm a little. ”
Furthermore, “The length and curvature of the patadial allows for very wide wing reconstructions. C. eribensis“It generated a lot of lift in the air and could have glided a considerable distance.”
Originally published in Live Science.
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