The ancient skies of Brazil were once dominated by magnificent flying reptiles known as pterosaurs, creatures that soared across every corner of the prehistoric landscape. These enormous beings, with wingspans reaching up to six meters, are the focus of a newly released book by paleontologist Luiz Eduardo Anelli. Titled Pterosaurs of Brazil (Editora Peirópolis) and featuring illustrations by Julio Lacerda, the book delves into the unique characteristics of these ancestral reptiles, often mistaken for dinosaurs.
In an interview with BBC News Brasil, Anelli, a professor at the Institute of Geosciences at the University of São Paulo (IGc-USP), highlighted four species of Brazilian pterosaurs that stood out due to their remarkable features. "It is possible to find tens of thousands of fossils of Caiuajara dobruskii, which had a very imposing crest," he said. "On the other hand, Anhanguera piscator was an excellent fisherman and patrolled the seas of what we now call Ceará."
Anelli explained that pterosaurs are classified as archosaur reptiles, a group that includes dinosaurs and crocodilians and dominated the Mesozoic Era—the age comprising the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. "Pterosaurs are found in the geological record around 219 million years ago, at the end of the Triassic period," he noted. This places their emergence between 10 and 15 million years after the first dinosaurs, some of which were discovered in the southern region of Brazil.
Despite their widespread presence, fossil records of pterosaurs in Brazil are limited to specific areas. "Pterosaurs flew over every corner of Brazil, but due to geological reasons, fossil records of only some species have been found in two specific places: Ceará and Paraná," Anelli explained. He emphasized that geology plays a crucial role in fossil preservation. "There must be pterosaurs preserved in rocks of various other states of Brazil, but they are more than three kilometers deep."
Clarifying common misconceptions, Anelli pointed out that pterosaurs are frequently confused with dinosaurs. "The division between dinosaurs and pterosaurs occurs due to anatomical concepts established during research by paleontologists," he said. For instance, dinosaurs generally had three fingers on their hands and fused vertebrae in the hip region, while pterosaurs had four fingers on their arms, with the fourth being extremely elongated to support their wings. Additionally, pterosaurs possessed hollow bones and a unique skeletal structure called the pteroide, which facilitated flight.
Anelli contrasted the evolutionary paths of flying vertebrates. "This is a Mesozoic Triassic story, where two groups of vertebrates learned to fly. This happened around 220 million years ago among pterosaurs. About 70 million years later, it was the turn of small dinosaurs to do the same," he explained. "And want to know more? Fifty million years later, mammals learned to fly, and bats appeared. In other words, we had three lineages of vertebrates that developed this ability at very distinct moments."
The extinction of pterosaurs remains a topic of intrigue among scientists. While the infamous meteor impact near present-day Mexico is often cited as a primary cause, Anelli suggested a combination of factors led to their demise. "They disappeared because they were large animals that needed a lot of food and took a long time to reproduce," he said. "Due to their size and biological characteristics, pterosaurs occupied a biological niche that was much more sensitive to environmental disturbances."
In contrast, birds—descendants of certain small dinosaurs—managed to survive the mass extinction event. "Birds had a very varied diet—they could survive on seeds and nuts, for example. In addition, their reproduction is much faster," Anelli observed. Their smaller size, intelligence, and adaptability allowed them to occupy niches less affected by the catastrophic changes that occurred millions of years ago.
Reflecting on the significance of studying prehistoric life, Anelli remarked, "Prehistory educates us, entertains us, brings us closer to science, and helps us think." He added, "More importantly, prehistory puts books in children's hands." He emphasized that understanding the Mesozoic Era, which makes up only 4% of Earth's history, is crucial because it was a transformative period. "But I can say that there is no time interval as extraordinary in terms of Geology and Biology. This is the moment when the current geography of the planet is shaped, mammals are born, flowering plants sprout… Almost everything we live today was seeded during the age of dinosaurs."
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
