Illuminating the ‘dark age’ of pterosaur evolution: an exceptional skeleton from the Middle Jurassic of Skye, Scotland

Dr Natalia Jagielska successfully defended her thesis in 2024 after 4.5 years as a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh and co-supervised by National Museums Scotland.

Last updated: 18 February 2025

About the research

Pterosaurs - commonly known as ‘pterodactyls’ - are some of the most iconic extinct animals. These dinosaur cousins were the first vertebrates to evolve flight, and thrived for over 100 million years during the Mesozoic Era. Very little is known, however, about their evolution during the Middle Jurassic, due to a global lack of fossils. This is frustrating because this interval was likely a critical time in pterosaur history, when they transitioned from small, long-tailed, primitive forms into the great diversity of species that characterized their Mesozoic heyday.

Our team discovered the most complete skeleton of a Middle Jurassic pterosaur from the UK - and one of the most complete worldwide - in the Lealt Shale Formation of the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It revealed important insights into the anatomy, relationships, feeding habits, flight abilities, and favoured habitats of Middle Jurassic pterosaurs. The project comprised a detailed study, description, and identification of the new specimen, and used it as a springboard to examine the relationships and evolution of Middle Jurassic pterosaurs more broadly.

Lead image: Dearc Skeleton Main Block - credit Gregory Funston