First Pterosaur Fossil Discovered in Egypt: Sallam Laboratuvarı Signs Historic Finding

Researchers from Egypt's Mansoura Üniversitesi announced the country's first confirmed pterosaur fossil record on Tuesday, 30 Haziran. Pterosaurs are flying reptiles that ruled the skies 145 million years before the appearance of birds. The discovery was led by the Mansoura Omurgalı Paleontoloji Merkezi (Sallam Laboratuvarı) in collaboration with Mısır Çevre Bakanlığı, Denver Doğa ve Bilim Müzesi, and Carnegie Doğa Tarihi Müzesi in the USA. The fossil consists of a rare and diagnostic part of the pterosaur wing: the first bone element associated with the elongated fourth digit. This piece was extracted from rocks belonging to the Bahariya Formasyonu near the Bahariya Vahası in the Batı Çölü.

The fossil was found within the sediments of the ancient marine Bahariya environment and provides the clearest direct evidence that pterosaurs lived and flew in the region that is now northern Mısır during the Late Cretaceous period, about 95 million years ago. Based on anatomical measurements, researchers state that the pterosaur represented by the fossil was medium-sized and had an estimated wingspan of about four meters. The study also emphasizes that pterosaur bones are generally thin-walled and lightweight, which is why their fossilization is rarely seen. This discovery is of great importance for Mısır's paleontological heritage and sheds light on the region's biological diversity during the Cretaceous period.

Sallam Laboratuvarı had previously made significant fossil discoveries in Mısır. In 2018, the same team found a new specimen of the giant carnivorous dinosaur Spinosaurus in the Bahariya Formasyonu. This new pterosaur fossil deepens our understanding of the region's rich fossil beds. Researchers note that this discovery is important not only for Mısır but for the entire African continent. Pterosaur fossils are quite rare in Africa, and this find provides valuable information about the continent's Cretaceous period ecosystems.

The fossil was found at an excavation site near the Bahariya Vahası. The area is known for its rich fossil content, but pterosaur remains had not been encountered before. The discovery once again highlights the importance of international collaboration. Researchers from Denver Doğa ve Bilim Müzesi and Carnegie Doğa Tarihi Müzesi played a critical role in the identification and dating of the fossil. The study also raises new questions regarding the flight biomechanics and evolutionary history of pterosaurs.

In conclusion, this discovery is a milestone for Mısır paleontology. The work of Sallam Laboratuvarı increases the country's scientific capacity and its reputation in the international arena. Future excavations are hoped to uncover more pterosaur fossils in the region. This find will also revive public interest in paleontology and raise awareness about Mısır's natural history. Researchers announced that detailed analyses of the fossil will be completed in the coming months and the results will be published in a prestigious scientific journal.