News > “The Monkeydactyl” – first pterosaur with opposed thumb discovered

“The Monkeydactyl” – first pterosaur with opposed thumb discovered

A team of researchers studied a well-preserved skeleton with an opposed pollex (thumb) on both hands. It was discovered in the Tiaojishan Formation of Liaoning, China embedded in rock. Researchers used micro-CT scanning to create a 3D rendering of the fossil and analysed the skeleton.

It lived between 161 and 158 million years ago (Jurassic period). They called it the “Monkeydactyl”, since the opposing thumbs helped in climbing trees like monkeys.