Discover new flying lizards in Patagonia

Scientists have just announced the discovery of a new lizard species in Tatagonia, South America. The skull remains still in excellent preserved state and it belongs to a new species of flying lizards discovered to exist in the Early Jurassic, about 170 million years ago.

The researchers named this new species "Allkauren koi" , in Tehuelche native language "all" means "brain" and "karuen" is "ancient".

Reconstructed image of flying lizards.(Photo: Gabriel Lio).

Flying lizards are a group of flying reptiles that live largely in the middle age. This group had a special adaptation to flight, including bones that contained more air chambers for lighter weights, and extended toes and support for wing membranes.

Fossils of flying lizards are not uncommon, but their neurosurgeon is known only from the few remaining separate dimensions, but so far there is no information about intermediate forms. .

This study has provided new information about the origin, progress and evolution of this group and especially the flying reptiles.

Allkaruen koi's fossils were found in northern central Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina and what remains is an intact skull. To study this skull, researchers used a tomography scan, in three directions: mold, skull and inner ear. Then, an analysis of the comprehensive reproductive system was performed, including brain and other anatomical data.

Allkaruen koi bone fragments: skull, lower jaw and neck vertebrae.(Photo: Codorniu L etal).

Dr. Diego Pol, a member of the research team, said: "Allkaruen has begun to be restricted from the middle of the later period of the Jurassic period, it shows an intermediate state of the evolution of the lizard's brain and their adaptation to the air environment ". As a result, this study has created an important contribution to the understanding of the evolution of all flying lizards.