A groundbreaking discovery has just placed Japan on the map of ancient flying creatures. For the first time in history, paleontologists have identified a pterosaur species from skeletal remains found in Japan, adding an exciting new chapter to the country’s fossil record. The species, Nipponopterus mifunensis, was discovered on Kyushu Island, and the research team’s findings promise to significantly deepen our understanding of prehistoric life.
A Pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous
The fossil of Nipponopterus mifunensis, which dates back 90 million years, reveals a pterosaur with a wingspan between 9.8 to 11.5 feet. The discovery is particularly noteworthy because Japan had previously yielded no skeletal remains of pterosaurs, making this find a unique and groundbreaking contribution to the scientific community. This pterosaur, part of the Azhdarchidae family, flew across the skies during the Turonian-Coniacian stages of the Late Cretaceous.
The remains were first spotted in the 1990s in the Mifune Group geological formation, located in Kumamoto Prefecture. The paleontologists behind the new study used state-of-the-art CT scanning techniques to examine the fossils.
Unique Features of Nipponopterus
The most distinctive feature of Nipponopterus mifunensis lies in its cervical vertebrae. The pterosaur had six cervical vertebrae, which is a trait not found in other pterosaur species. This unique skeletal feature helped the research team conclude that Nipponopterus represented an entirely new genus and species within its family. The vertebrae structure is particularly notable because it reflects the pterosaur’s specialized anatomy, which was essential for flight. This discovery adds to the growing body of knowledge about the diverse ways in which pterosaurs evolved to take to the skies.
STUNNING fossil of the pterosaur Rhamphorhynchus muensteri, from Germany.
It is SO well preserved, even the soft wing membrane has been preserved 150 million years after this animal died!
(Image D. Finnin) #FossilFriday pic.twitter.com/UxZWZkRG97
— Jan Freedman (@JanFreedman) November 19, 2021
An International Collaboration
The research team behind this discovery was an international collaboration of scientists from Shihezi University in China, the Zoology Museum at the University of São Paulo in Brazil, and several institutions in Japan, including the Mifune Dinosaur Museum, Kumamoto University, and Hokkaido University.
Their work not only represents a significant step forward for paleontology in Japan but also highlights the power of global scientific cooperation. As the researchers noted, “It’s a beautiful example of how science transcends borders.”
Advanced techniques like CT scanning allowed the team to conduct detailed analyses of the fossil remains. Through these methods, they were able to identify the pterosaur as belonging to the Azhdarchidae family, a group known for their large size and specialized flight capabilities. The Nipponopterus adds a new dimension to our understanding of this ancient lineage, suggesting that some of the largest flying reptiles once soared over what is now Japan, as well as parts of North America and Mongolia.
Tying Japan to the World of Pterosaurs
The Nipponopterus mifunensis discovery provides an exciting link between Japan and the broader world of pterosaurs, particularly the species from North America and Mongolia.
As Dr. Naoki Ikegami, one of the paleontologists involved in the study, described it: “a major step forward for Japanese paleontology.” This fossil is now proudly displayed at the Mifune Dinosaur Museum in Kumamoto, offering the public a chance to view this extraordinary specimen that once ruled the skies over Japan.
