20040609

Wang, X. & Zhou, Z. (2004) Palaeontology: Pterosaur embryo from the Early Cretaceous Nature,429, 623

An unambiguously pterosaur embryonic skeleton, which is exquisitely preserved in its egg, is associated with eggshell fragments, wing membranes and skin imprints is discovered in Jingangshan in the Liaoning province (Early Cretaceos) of northeastern China. The discovery confirms that pterosaurs were egg-layers and sheds new light on our understanding of pterosaur development.At just 53 millimetres long and 41 millimetres wide, it is slightly smaller than a typical hen\\\'s egg. But the embryo boasts a 27-centimetre wingspan that would have more than quadrupled by adulthood. According to Wang the baby beast would have been an early developer, like many modern bird chicks.

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