Scientists Reveal Bird Fossil Fish Eater

An ancient fish fossil found in a position to attack and sink a pterosaur. This illustrates that the winged reptile that fall prey to carnivorous fish.

During the time of the dinosaurs, pterosaurs dominated the air space. However, it was flying does not always guarantee the security of these prehistoric animals. Similarly, reported Live Science

Scientists have found five instances of long-tailed pterosaurs Rhamphorhychus or in the jaws of an ancient armored fish, called Aspidorhynchus. Fossils unearthed in Bavaria were approximately 120 million years old.

All pterosaurs are found to have a wing span of approximately 27 inches (70 centimeters), in such a position that they are on the wing near the mouth of a predator fish measuring 25 inches (65 centimeters).

This suggests that predator fish that could have gripped the wing membranes of pterosaurs. In one instance was seen that the bones fossilized pterosaur wing is actually caught in the jaws of the fish.

The researchers speculate that fish Aspidorhynchus pterosaurs attack while flying just above the surface of the water, right after a prehistoric bird that caught a fish of the sea.

"These animals are usually not related to each other. But apparently the meeting could be fatal for both," said Eberhard Frey, paleozoologi expert at the State Natural History Museum in Karlsruhe, Germany.

He also explained that the fish can not swallow the jaws of pterosaurs or their release, because pterosaurs had a strong body of fiber networks. Wings to trap coarse fishing gear.

After a fight with pterosaurs, the fish will tend to sink to the bottom water oxygen levels are low, then suffocated.