A Tragic Ending in the Tempest - Questioning the Fate of Bavarian Flying Reptiles and their Infant
In the limestone slabs of Solnhofen, Bavaria, hundreds of small, young pterosaur fossils have been discovered, most of them well-preserved. Among these fossils are two miniature pterosaurs named "Lucky" and "Lucky II," which were just a few days or weeks old and had wingspans of less than 20 centimeters.
A British research team suggests that these pterosaurs met a dramatic end due to injuries sustained during a tropical storm in the Jurassic period. The break in the left wing of "Lucky" and the right wing of "Lucky II" indicates strong rotational force, more likely from wind gusts than a collision.
The injuries suggest a strong gust of wind likely caused the break, possibly during a tropical storm 150 million years ago. The bodies of the pterosaurs sank to the sea floor and were covered by calcareous silt, preserving the fossils well.
Scientists previously believed that the ecosystems of the Solnhofen lagoon were dominated by small pterosaurs. However, the discovery of these fossils suggests that the ecosystem might have been different from what was previously believed. Adult pterosaurs were rarely found in Solnhofen and, if so, only in fragments, according to researchers.
The new theory about the mass site of pterosaur fossils was developed by researchers including Smyth, who suggest that small, young pterosaurs were likely driven by storms into the lagoon where they died and were rapidly buried, explaining their exceptional preservation. Small pterosaurs living on nearby islands may have been repeatedly blown over the lagoon by massive storms, where they crashed.
Larger animals might have been better able to withstand the natural forces, according to the implication. The story of "Lucky" and "Lucky II" may not have been an isolated case in the Solnhofen lagoon.
Meanwhile, in Ludwigsburg, the Ludwigsburg Committee is advocating for a greater role in decision-making in the region. This news, however, does not relate to the pterosaur discoveries.
As for millennials reaching the age of 40, the concept of a midlife crisis may not be as prevalent among this generation. This fact is not related to the pterosaur findings either.
In the Göppingen District, a head-on crash resulted in three people being seriously injured. This incident is unrelated to the pterosaur fossils and their dramatic ends.
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