Mastodawn

New #Triassic #fossil features sharp claws and a beak
Non-flying precursor to #pterosaurs shared the Earth with the first #dinosaurs. Venetoraptor gassenae is the name of this new species of #lagerpetid, that lived about 230mya in #Brazil. The beak appears to be without teeth, although they may not have been preserved. Team suggests it could use it to eat hard fruit or tear flesh from prey. In extant birds, beaks help with vocalization, thermoregulation, & sexual display
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/08/new-triassic-fossil-features-sharp-claws-and-a-nasty-beak/

A non-flying precursor to pterosaurs shared the Earth with the first dinosaurs.

Ars Technica

I was having trouble pronouncing "#lagerpetid" until I put it in the manamana song.

🎶🎵 Lagerpetid. Do dooooo dodo-do Lagerpetid. Do dodo DOO! Lagerpetid. Do dooooo dodo-do dodo-do dodo-do do doo dodo-do do do doooo do. Lagerpetid!🎵🎶

New #reptile shows dinosaurs and pterosaurs evolved among diverse precursors https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06359-z

"#Venetoraptor gassenae is the name of this #NewSpecies of #lagerpetid that lived 230 million years ago... The #skull consists of a raptorial-like #beak without teeth. Its forelimbs end in long #fingers with #scimitar-like #claws."

A non-flying precursor to pterosaurs shared the Earth with the first dinosaurs.

Ars Technica