Unique Flying Reptile Fossil of Jurassic Era Discovered in Scotland

The fossil of a unique species of flying reptile, known as a pterosaur was discovered by scientists from the Natural History Museum, University of Bristol, University of Leicester, and the University of Liverpool.

The discovered fossil is of pterosaur, named Ceoptera, that lived approximately 168-166 million years back in the the Middle Jurassic period.

The study named “A new pterosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Skye, Scotland and the early diversification of flying reptiles” is published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Although the skull of the fossil has not been found, its wings, shoulders, legs, and backbone were found in a rock on the island of Sky, reported BBC.

As per the findings, the creature had a wing span of around 1m to 1.5m.

Ceoptera is the second pterosaur to be found on the Isle of Skye.

Researchers believe that during the Middle Jurassic period, Scotland was part of an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with a sub-tropical climate with beaches and lagoons where the pterosaurs probably liked to live.