Name:
Sharovipteryx (Greek for "Sharov's wing"); pronounced shah-roe-VIP-teh-rix
Habitat:
Woodlands of central Asia
Historical Period:
Late Triassic (230 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About one foot long and one pound
Diet:
Insects
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Small size; long tail; flaps of skin along limbs
About Sharovipteryx:
Given its overall appearance--especially its long tail and the flaps of skin along its hind and (possibly) front limbs--it would be tempting to assume that the late Triassic Sharovipteryx lay at the root of pterosaur evolution. However, this is far from a universally accepted conclusion; for example, this archosaur wasn't capable of powered flight, merely gliding from tree to tree, an adaptation that has arisen numerous times in the animal kingdom (and not only among reptiles, as witness the flying squirrel). This tiny creature also seems to have spent a fair amount of its time walking, judging by its relatively long legs.
