Traces of Neoazhdarchian pterosaurs unearthed in South Korea offer insights into how some of the largest flying reptiles might have hunted on land. The findings of a new study are detailed in the journal Scientific Reports.
Pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to achieve active flight, are often envisioned soaring above ancient seas.
For decades, paleontologists had proposed that certain pterosaur species also spent significant time on the ground pursuing prey, much like modern wading birds. However, tangible evidence supporting this behavior had remained elusive until now.
“Pterosaurs were pivotal components of Mesozoic ecosystems, flourishing from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period,” noted Jeong Yoon Jeon of the University of Texas at Austin and the Korean Dinosaur Research Center at Chonnam National University, along with his colleagues. “They occupied a broad spectrum of ecological niches and exhibited diverse feeding adaptations.”
Specifically, based on anatomical features, functional morphology, and other fossil evidence, it has been theorized that Neoazhdarchia—encompassing thalassodromeids, chaoyangopterids, and azhdarchids—comprised predominantly terrestrial carnivorous hunters.
These interpretations suggest that some lineages might have employed hunting strategies analogous to those of contemporary terrestrial predators such as storks or cranes.
Nevertheless, direct documentation of pterosaur terrestrial predation has been missing from the paleontological record.
Recently documented footprints, preserved in 106-million-year-old rocks from the Jinju Formation, may help bridge this gap.
These large, asymmetrical tracks featuring elongated toes, attributed to a newly identified ichnogenus and species, Jinjuichnus procerus, were left by a pterosaur belonging to the neoazhdarchian group.
The flying reptile’s trackway lies in close proximity to discrete tracks presumably made by a small terrestrial animal—perhaps a salamander or lizard—suggesting a pursuit scenario by the prehistoric creatures.
The animal’s tracks show a sharp change in direction and a noticeable increase in stride length, indicative of a sudden burst of speed.
Meanwhile, the pterosaur appears to have been moving relatively quickly for its size, clocking in at approximately 0.8 meters per second.
This pace is consistent with the hypothesis that neoazhdarchians were capable, ground-based predators.
However, the possibility of a coincidental spatial relationship between the two track groupings cannot be dismissed.
“This association provides potential ichnological evidence for pterosaur interaction with terrestrial vertebrates,” the paleontologists stated. “Nevertheless, an alternative interpretation of the two sets of trackways remains available, making it difficult to confirm any direct interaction between the track makers.”
The paired trackways highlight considerations that must be taken into account when evaluating potential interactions involving the trace makers.
While scenarios such as predation remain inconclusive, they nevertheless underscore the interpretive complexity inherent in assessing behavioral connections preserved within track assemblages.
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