New species of ancient flying reptile discovered in Aussie outback

The bones were unearthed in western Queensland in 2021 by local fossil museum curator Kevin Petersen.

Now, a new study of the bones by Curtin University researchers has determined they belong to a new genus and species of pterosaur – a formidable flying reptile that lived among the dinosaurs.

Based on the shape of its skull, the arrangement of its teeth and the shape of the shoulder bone, a research team led by PhD student Adele Pentland, from Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, identified the specimen as an anhanguerian.

The anhanguerian is a group of pterosaurs known to have lived across the world, including in what is now Brazil, England, Morocco, China, Spain and the United States.

“With a wingspan of approximately 4.6 metres, Haliskia would have been a fearsome predator around 100 million years ago when much of central western Queensland was underwater, covered by a vast inland sea and globally positioned about where Victoria’s southern coastline is today,” Pentland said.

The specimen is 22 per cent complete, making it the most complete specimen of a pterosaur discovered in Australia to date.

”The specimen includes complete lower jaws, the tip of the upper jaw, 43 teeth, vertebrae, ribs, bones from both wings and part of a leg,” Pentland said.

“Also present are very thin and delicate throat bones, indicating a muscular tongue, which helped during feeding on fish and cephalopods.”

The pterosaur remains are set to go on display at Petersen’s museum, the Kronosaurus Korner in north-west Queensland, alongside a number of significant marine fossil specimens.

Petersen said the discovery was an exciting boost for science, education and regional tourism.

“I’m thrilled that my discovery is a new species, as my passion lies in helping shape our modern knowledge of prehistoric species,” he said.