Egypt's First Pterosaur Fossil Fills 95-Million-Year Gap
Egyptian researchers just discovered the country's first confirmed pterosaur fossil, closing a major gap in our understanding of where these ancient flying reptiles lived 95 million years ago. The breakthrough puts Egypt on the map for prehistoric winged discoveries.
Scientists in Egypt just made a discovery that rewrites what we know about prehistoric flying reptiles across an entire continent.
An international team led by Egyptian paleontologist Hesham Sallam has confirmed the first pterosaur fossil ever found in Egypt. The 95-million-year-old bone fills a puzzling blank spot on the map of where these ancient creatures once soared.
The fossil is a nearly complete wing bone from a medium-sized pterosaur, discovered in the Bahariya Oasis in Egypt's Western Desert. These flying reptiles lived alongside dinosaurs but weren't actually dinosaurs themselves.
What makes this find special isn't just the fossil itself. Until now, pterosaur remains had been discovered in Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Jordan, but Egypt was mysteriously missing from the list despite being right in the middle of that region.
The research team, with Egyptian scientist Belal Salem as lead author, published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. The bone belonged to a pterosaur from the Ornithocheiromorpha group, known to have lived across northern Africa during the Late Cretaceous period.
The fossil came from fluvial floodplain deposits dating back to the Cenomanian age, around 95 million years ago. It's the first bone of the elongated fourth finger that would have supported the creature's left wing.
Why This Inspires
This discovery shows the power of homegrown scientific talent leading major breakthroughs. Hesham Sallam founded the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology center specifically to help Egypt claim its place in paleontological research.
The find proves that important pieces of Earth's prehistoric puzzle are still waiting to be discovered. Each new fossil helps scientists understand how ancient creatures spread across continents and adapted to different environments millions of years ago.
For young scientists in Egypt and across Africa, this discovery sends a clear message: the next major breakthrough could come from your own backyard.
Based on reporting by Google: fossil discovery
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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