SMRTR Science & EngineeringJul 20, 2025Interesting Engineering

Dinosaur-era flying reptile’s fossil reveals first direct evidence of plant diet

SMRTR summary

A fossil discovery of a sinopterus atavismus pterosaur in China reveals the first direct evidence of stomach contents in a pterodactyloid pterosaur. The fossil contained phytoliths and quartz crystals, suggesting the creature ate plants and used stones for digestion. This challenges previous assumptions about pterosaur diets and provides new insights into these ancient flying reptiles.

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