Fossils reveal 150 million-year-old storm buried baby pterosaurs, say scientists

Two baby pterosaurs perished in a violent ancient storm. Their fossil discovery sheds light on how harsh weather shaped prehistoric life. Scientists now understand why young pterosaurs are commonly preserved.

How did these baby pterosaurs meet their fate?

Researchers studied fossils of two juvenile Pterodactylus antiquus from Germany’s Solnhofen limestone. The delicate skeletons belonged to the smallest specimens ever found, with wingspans around 8 inches (20 cm). Study lead Rab Smyth, from the University of Leicester, revealed that powerful tropical storm winds likely pushed them into a lagoon. Once trapped, strong currents dragged them underwater, where sediment preserved their remains. The fossils, nicknamed “Lucky” and “Lucky II”, show clear humeral fractures from excessive wind force.

“This isn’t just luck for science,” said co-author David Unwin. He explained that the fossils were exceptionally rare. Pterosaurs had hollow, thin-walled bones, ideal for flight but poor for fossilisation. Most fossils found are fragmented adults, yet these juveniles were remarkably intact. Lucky was discovered at the Bergér Museum, while Lucky II appeared a year later at Solnhofen’s Burgermeister Müller Museum.