A rare stash of thousands of ancient bones found in Brazil has turned in a magnificent find: over 47 skeletons of a single, new species of Upper Cretaceous pterosaur.
Discovered in an old lake deposit on the outskirts of Cruzeiro do Oeste in the southern state of Parana, the bones are unusual for two reasons: firstly, that pterosaur bones had never been found in the southern part of Brazil, with all other pterosaur material found in the northeast.
Secondly, the size of the cache, found over a space of about 20 square metres, is deeply impressive. Pterosaurs seem to have lived on the coast, and recovered remains are usually limited to fragments of a single specimen. Although the researchers confirmed 47 individuals, they estimate the actual number to be well into the hundreds.
