1、Click Here for Support with using Interactive PDFsExceedingly Rare Fossil Unearthed of Largest-Ever Jurassic PterosaurThe remains of the largest-ever Jurassic pterosaur have been discovered on the Isle of Skye,Scotland.Researchers think it would have had a wingspan of around two and a half metres.Th
2、e new species has been given the name Dearc sgiathanach(pronounced jark ski-an-ach).The name has the double meaning winged reptile and reptile from Skye in Scottish Gaelic.It also refers to where it was found because the Isle of Skyes Gaelic name means the winged isle.The flying reptiles fossil was
3、first spotted by a student during a field trip.It was found on the coast during low tide.A team later returned with diamond-tipped saws to cut it from the rock.However,when the tide began to come back in,the work had to stop.They worried they might lose the fossil.Thankfully,the 170-million-year-old
4、 fossil survived a little longer.They returned when the tide went out again and were able to extract it.One of the most striking things about the fossil is how well preserved it is.Natalia Jagielska was involved with the research.She explained,“pterosaurs had hollow bones with thin bone walls,making
5、 their remains incredibly fragile.”“Pterosaurs preserved in such quality are exceedingly rare.”Professor Steve Brusatte was also involved with the research.He said the fossil was“far beyond any pterosaur ever found in Scotland.”He added that it was“probably the best British skeleton found since the
6、days of Mary Anning.”Daily News Science UK News 28th February 2022GlossaryGaelic A language spoken by some people in parts of Scotland and Ireland.behemoth A massive creature.extractTake out;remove.preservedKept in a good way for a length of time.Is Dearc sgiathanach the largest-ever pterosaur?No.Th
7、at would be the Quetzalcoatlus(pronounced kwet-sal-co-at-lus).It was a prehistoric behemoth lived during the Late Cretaceous period and had a wingspan of around 11 metres!Thats about the length of a bus!Illustration:Dearc sgiathanach escaping a dinosaur.visit Questions1.Using information from the ar
8、ticle,fill in the missing words to complete the sentence.The rare of the largest-ever pterosaur were found on the Isle of Skye.2.Tick to show whether the statement is true or false according to the article.TrueFalseDearc sgiathanach is the largest pterosaur ever discovered.Dearc sgiathanach had a wi
9、ngspan of over two metres.The fossil was spotted at high tide.The Dearc sgiathanach fossil is from the Cretaceous period.3.Find and copy one word which shows that pterosaur fossils are not strong and easily broken or damaged.4.In which country was the fossil discovered?5.According to the text,give o
10、ne way that Quetzalcoatlus are.(a)similar to Dearc sgiathanach.(b)different from Dearc sgiathanach.6.Find one piece of evidence from the article which you think shows that the scientists were not expecting to find a pterosaur fossil in such good condition.Exceedingly Rare Fossil Unearthed of Largest-Ever Jurassic Pterosaurvisit
