Dinosaur with bat –like wings discovered

The discovery of a dinosaur with unique wings could reveal new insights into the range of flight techniques animals were using around the time modern birds emerged.

Investigations of the fossil have shown it to belong to the Scansoriopterygidae group of dinosaurs, characterized by their small size and longer third finger than other theropods.

More remarkably the new species has a long, rod-like (styliform) bone in each wrist, not seen in any other dinosaur but with similarities to other flying and gliding animals including bats, flying squirrels and pterosaurs.

Feathers were found on the specimen but it lacked the large flight feathers of birds and their closest relatives. Instead, the key to any possible flight seems to be sheet-like soft tissue or membrane that connected the rods and other fingers.

A farmer discovered the only known remains in, China and the researchers confirmed its authenticity.

Source: BBC

N.H.Khider