Scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking discovery in the realm of paleontology: a new species of pterosaur named Eotephradactylus mcintireae. Fast forward to 2025, when scientists found something truly spectacular at Petrified Forest National Park. Their find of Eotephradactylus mcintireae marks it as among the oldest known pterosaur species found beyond Europe. Ben Kligman, a Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellow and paleontologist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, recently spearheaded a thrilling discovery. This discovery paints a more complex picture of the highly diverse ecosystems that existed during the late Triassic period, around 209 million years ago.
Kligman and his research team excitedly stumbled onto an interesting finding. From this bonanza of fossils, they identified Eotephradactylus mcintireae, a new species from the geologically underexplored Owl Rock Member geologic formation. This is partly because this area has extremely fertile volcanic ash. It has uncovered more than 1,200 different individual fossils, including bones, teeth, fish scales and coprolites. This makes the discovery of Eotephradactylus mcintireae incredibly important. It provides unprecedented snapshots of the rich and varied vertebrate community that flourished in this lush region of ancient Pangaea.
The Discovery Journey
In 2018, as an incoming freshman, Ben Kligman launched into his own research experience. This paper solves the mystery of who had originally found Eotephradactylus mcintireae at the site where he worked. He aimed to explore the lesser-known Owl Rock Member, which contains layers of geological history yet to be fully understood.
Looking back, the discovery process was difficult yet fulfilling. Kligman noted, “That’s the fun thing about paleontology: you go looking for one thing, and then you find something else that’s incredible that you weren’t expecting.” Despite their different philosophies, Kligman and his team worked together thrash and professor on the effort. Their joint efforts revealed an astonishing fossil ecosystem, offering a spectacular look into a long-vanished world.
Volunteer Suzanne McIntire—a former FossiLab preparator with 18 years of service at the Smithsonian—was the inspiration for the species name Eotephradactylus mcintireae. Her devotion to paleontological research inspired her choice as the namesake of this remarkable discovery. McIntire expressed her excitement about the find, stating, “What was exciting about uncovering this specimen was that the teeth were still in the bone, so I knew the animal would be much easier to identify.”
Ecosystem Insights
The world of Eotephradactylus mcintireae would have been quite different, a bustling aquatic environment with a rich array of vertebrate fauna. Alongside pterosaurs, turtles, and other iconic animals, this lush environment featured even more arcane groups such as giant amphibians and armored crocodile relatives. The assemblage of fossils found at the site is indicative of 16 major groups of vertebrate animals.
Kligman underscored the significance of this finding in shedding light on major evolutionary transitions. He remarked, “The site captures the transition to more modern terrestrial vertebrate communities where we start seeing groups that thrive later in the Mesozoic living alongside these older animals that don’t make it past the Triassic.” This result emphasizes the astounding diversity of life at this time. It also sheds light on the intricate relationships that developed between different species.
The political location of the region at the time during the late Triassic epoch makes it even more fascinating. Positioned as it was just above the equator, it found itself at the center of Pangaea. This unusual geographic setting presented an unparalleled opportunity for really understanding ancient life. The findings contribute to an evolving understanding of how ecosystems functioned during a time when many species were beginning to emerge.
Implications for Paleontology
Eotephradactylus mcintireae marks the start of an exciting new exploration opportunity. Lands such as Petrified Forest National Park are ready for exploration! The Owl Rock Member is one of the park’s most poorly studied geologic outcrops. It means there are plenty more secrets yet to be revealed!
Kligman emphasized the importance of their findings for larger paleontological research. He stated, “This suggests that turtles rapidly dispersed across Pangaea, which is surprising for an animal that is not very large and is likely walking at a slow pace.” The study deepens our understanding of pterosaurs. Retrospectively, it shows the irregular migration patterns and ecological interactions in ancient ecosystems.