200 MILLION-YEAR-OLD FLYING PTEROSAUR

PARIS : Scientists on Monday unveiled a previously unknown species of giant Pterosaur, the first creatures with a backbone to fly under their own power.

Neither dino nor  bird, Pterosaurs - more commonly known as pterodactyls - emerged during the late  Triassic period more than 200 million years ago and lorded over primeval skies until a massive space rock slammed into earth-

Wiping out land dwelling dinosaurs and most other forms of life more than 65 million years ago.

The newly discovered member of the family, identified through the remains found in northeastern Utah, had a wing-span of 1.5 metres and  112 teeth, including  fang-like  spikes sticking out near the snout.

4 Jutting lower jaw suggests a pelican like pouch, perhaps to scoop up fish and and unsuspecting small reptiles.

''They are delicately framed animals that are built for flying,'' said Brooks Britt, a paleontologist  at Brigham Young university in Utan and lead  author of a study in -

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Caelestiventus hanseni - roughly, ''heavenly wind'' - is probably the most complete skeletal remains of a Pterosaurs ever found.

''Most Pterosaurs bones look like road kill,'' Britt said,  noting that there are only 30-odd specimens  in the entire world from the  Triassic period.

By contrast, the new specimen left behind dozens of intact bones and teeth, along with an entire brain casing.

The remains are still encased in sandstone, but  scientists generated  accurate  3-D images and models of each fossil using  CAT scan technology. [AFP]