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Pterosaurs as part of a spinosaur diet

Nature volume 430, page 33 (2004) Cite this article

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A rare fossilized action snapshot captures a mortal tussle with a hungry predator.

Abstract

A remarkable specimen has been discovered of an Early Cretaceous pterosaur that has a tooth embedded in one of its cervical vertebrae: the tooth has been identified as one from a spinosaurid theropod dinosaur. This fossil is direct evidence that spinosaurs included items other than fish in their diet.

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Figure 1: Cervical vertebrae of a pterosaur, with a dinosaur tooth embedded in one.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNRS, 16 cour du Liégat, Paris, 75013, France

    Eric Buffetaut

  2. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3QL, UK

    David Martill

  3. Eldonia, Gannat, 03800, France

    François Escuillié

Authors
  1. Eric Buffetaut
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  2. David Martill
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  3. François Escuillié
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Correspondence to Eric Buffetaut.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Buffetaut, E., Martill, D. & Escuillié, F. Pterosaurs as part of a spinosaur diet. Nature 430, 33 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/430033a

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