SOME of the largest pterosaursflying reptiles that flourished more than 65 million years agomay have fed on shellfish like modern cranes. Palaeontologists once believed that the creatures were like huge scavenging condors. But two researchers in Texas say that fossil evidence suggests the creatures waded in shallow ponds, possibly in large flocks like flamingos.
For some time, palaeontologists believed that most large pterosaurs were fish-eaters that lived near the sea. Most of their remains have been found in shallow marine sediments. The animals probably fished like modern pelicans, grabbing fish close to the surface as they flew low over the water. However, one large genus known as
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.