The skeleton of a fearsome predator dubbed a ‘demon pelican’ has been unearthed, 100 million years after it soared over inland Australia.
The new species of pterosaur, a flying reptile thought to have lived in the age of the dinosaurs, was discovered outside the rural town of Richmond in the west of the country. Queensland.
Adele Pentland, who led the Curtin University research team that identified the new species, said the creature had a wingspan of 4.6 metres.
“They are described as a kind of demonic pelican,” she told AAP.
‘They had large jaws filled with rows of pointed teeth and the head of this animal would have been about 60 centimeters in size.’
Adele Pentland (pictured) says the flying reptile probably ate fish and squid-like creatures
The 100-million-year-old fossilized remains of a flying reptile, described as a ‘demon pelican’, have been discovered in outback Queensland.
The area where the fossilized remains were found was once covered by an inland sea, which Ms Pentland said would have been the pterosaur’s food source.
“It probably ate fish and squid-like creatures,” the Curtin University PhD student said.
‘We find bones of plesiosaurs – marine reptiles – and certainly many fish fossils have also been discovered in this way.’
The fossilized remains were excavated in 2021 by Kevin Petersen, museum curator of Kronosaurus Korner, and identified by the Curtin University team as Haliskia peterseni.
“I am thrilled that my discovery is a new species, as my passion lies in helping shape our modern knowledge of prehistoric species,” Mr Petersen said.
The skeleton is 22 percent complete, including the entire lower jaw, the tip of the upper jaw, 43 teeth, ribs, bones of both wings and part of the leg.
Ms Pentland said this is the most complete pterosaur skeleton found in Australia.
“There is only one other partial pterosaur skeleton from Australia and it is 10 percent complete,” she said.
‘To know that there is potentially more material available as more excavations continue… that’s an absolutely incredible feeling.’
The Haliskia peterseni is on display at Kronosaurus Korner in the Queensland outback town of Richmond, which Ms Pentland said would boost paleotourism in the region.
“It’s just another great fossil for people to come and look at,” she said.
‘The area has been affected by drought for a number of years, so the money brought into these small towns through tourism really makes a big difference.’
