Paleontologists in China have announced the discovery of a unique-looking new species of dinosaur that sported bat-like wings. Fossilized remains of the ancient creature, believed to have existed on Earth a whopping 163 million years ago, were reportedly unearthed in a north eastern region of the country two years ago. A subsequent study of the oddity resulted in a paper published this week which heralded the Ambopteryx longibrachium into the pantheon of dinosaurs.
What is particularly interesting about this newfound creature is its bat-like wings which, scientists say, provide a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of dinosaur flight. They suggest that, since the Ambopteryx longibrachium lived alongside creatures possessing feathered wings, there was a veritable competition among the two types of dinosaurs as to which form thrived best. As is evident by the abundance of birds around the world today, clearly the bat-winged dinosaur did not fare very well when it comes to the proverbial test of time.
More in this intriguing story at the Coast to Coast AM website.