new tiny possible azhdarchid

[Halichoeres]

New specimen from Late Cretaceous North America. Probably azhdarchid, but it's roughly the size of a cat, at a time when small pterosaurs were thought to be extinct. They refrained from giving it a name, but interesting find.

http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/3/8/160333

[CityRaptor]

Guess Pterosaurs did not decline a much as previously thought, unless it turns out to be a juvenile.

What a cute little Pterosaur.

[deanm]

Looks interesting. Thanks for sharing.

I will be reading the article tonight.

I suspect that the pterosaur story of decline and replacement by birds will turn out to be a more complex story - one involving habitat shifts (to habitats less conducive to leaving behind remains for fossilization) and growing animal size niche shifting. As pterosaurs grew they would go through two or more ecological niche shifts (insects do something similar now) based on their size and subtle changes in their morphology.

Also, as more fossil material is discovered it will only enhance and richen the overall pterosaur evolutionary story as we go on.