Oxford, England – Paleontologists have unearthed a remarkable fossil of a gigantic pterosaur in a gravel pit near Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. The discovery, dating back to the Jurassic period, reveals a creature with an estimated wingspan exceeding 3 meters, making it one of the largest pterosaurs from that era.
The fossil, identified as a partial left first wing finger phalanx, was discovered in June 2022 by geologist Dr. James Etienne while searching for fossil marine reptiles. The site, temporarily exposed in the Late Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay Formation, yielded various ancient sea creatures, including bones of ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and ammonites.
According to a paper published in the Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, the fossil was analyzed by experts from the universities of Portsmouth and Leicester. The specimen, now housed in the Etches Collection in Kimmeridge, Dorset, was identified as a ctenochasmatoid pterosaur, known for their long, slender wings and fine bristle-like teeth.
This extraordinary find highlights the rich prehistoric heritage of the United Kingdom and provides a glimpse into the grandeur of the ancient skies.
