JOURNAL ARTICLE

Pterosaur died with belly full of plants—a fossil first.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2025. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Brown, Taylor Mitchell 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses a significant paleontological discovery that confirms the long-held hypothesis that some pterosaurs, specifically the species Sinopterus atavismus, were herbivorous. A fossil found in northeastern China, dating back approximately 120 million years, preserved the creature's stomach, which contained minerals indicative of plant consumption, including quartz crystals and phytoliths. This evidence challenges the previous understanding that pterosaurs were primarily carnivorous and suggests a greater dietary diversity among these ancient reptiles. Researchers emphasize the importance of this finding in reevaluating the ecological roles of pterosaurs and their feeding behaviors. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2025/07, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Zoology
  • Publication Date:2025
  • Accession Number:186533915
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Sciencemag.org is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.