Pterosaur fossil found in Japan identified as new species
A fossilized cervical vertebra discovered back in 1996 in southwestern Japan was found to have been from a new genus and species of pterosaur, a prehistoric flying reptile.
A research team made up of members from Mifune Dinosaur Museum, which has the fossil on display, and others named the new species of the extinct flying vertebrates "Nipponopterus mifunensis," or "Japan's wings from Mifune" in Latin. This is the first time that a pterosaur has been named based on a fossil found in Japan.
The fossil was discovered from a geologic formation dating back 100.5 million to 66 million years during the Late Cretaceous period in the town of Mifune in Kumamoto Prefecture by the town's education board.
Past research had confirmed that the fossil was of a specimen of the Azhdarchidae family, a group of long-necked pterosaurs. Due to the scarcity of available fossils that could be used as reference at the time, the exact genus and species were left unidentified.
In the latest research, the team concluded that the fossil was of a new pterosaur genus and species due to several distinct features, through analysis of computed tomography scans and comparisons with about 200 species of pterosaurs.
The team's finding was published in international journal Cretaceous Research in March this year.
"This is an important research result showing that pterosaurs were flying in the skies near Japan," Naoki Ikegami, 57, a curator at the museum, said.
"The finding has opened the door to pterosaur research in Japan," he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
Nippon Steel to invest in electric furnaces with government support
Nippon Steel said Friday that it will invest ¥868.7 billion in introducing electric furnaces at its domestic steel plants, with support from the industry ministry. The ministry announced that it will provide up to ¥251.4 billion in aid for the company's changeover from blast furnaces. Since the steel-making process produces a large amount of carbon emissions, steelmakers are now taking measures to decarbonize, including replacing blast furnaces, which use coal and other substances to make steel, with electric furnaces. Nippon Steel aims to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 30% in 2030 compared with levels in 2013, and realize net-zero emissions in 2050. The company is set to spend ¥630.2 billion in installing one electric furnace at its Kyushu Works' Yawata Area in Kitakyushu, ¥140 billion for adding one electric furnace at the Hirohata Area of its Setouchi Works in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, and ¥98.5 billion in renovating and restarting one existing electric furnace at its Yamaguchi Works in the city of Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture. After starting steel production by the second half of fiscal 2029, the three electric furnaces are expected to have a total annual output of 2.9 million tons.
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Pterosaur Fossil Found in Japan Identified as New Species
Courtesy of Mifune Dinosaur Museum / Jiji Press A fossilized cervical vertebra of Nipponopterus mifunensis KUMAMOTO (Jiji Press) — A fossilized cervical vertebra discovered back in 1996 in southwestern Japan has been found to have been a new genus and species of pterosaur, a prehistoric flying reptile. A research team made up of members from Mifune Dinosaur Museum, which has the fossil on display, and others named the new species of the extinct flying vertebrates 'Nipponopterus mifunensis,' or 'Japan's wings from Mifune' in Latin. This is the first time that a pterosaur has been named based on a fossil found in Japan. The fossil was discovered from a geologic formation dating back 100.5 million to 66 million years during the Late Cretaceous period in the town of Mifune in Kumamoto Prefecture by the town's education board. Past research had confirmed that the fossil was of a specimen of the Azhdarchidae family, a group of long-necked pterosaurs. Due to the scarcity of available fossils that could be used as reference at the time, the exact genus and species were left unidentified. In the latest research, the team concluded that the fossil was of a new pterosaur genus and species due to several distinct features, through analysis of computed tomography scans and comparisons with about 200 species of pterosaurs. The team's finding was published in international journal Cretaceous Research in March this year. 'This is an important research result showing that pterosaurs were flying in the skies near Japan,' Naoki Ikegami, 57, a curator at the museum, said. 'The finding has opened the door to pterosaur research in Japan,' he added.
NHK
3 days ago
- NHK
Japanese university to accept researchers affected by Trump's policies
The University of Osaka in western Japan has announced that it will accept up to about 100 US-based researchers, regardless of nationality. The move comes in response to restrictive academic policies under President Donald Trump's administration. The administration's measures include banning Harvard University from enrolling international students. The University of Osaka announced the plan on Wednesday, saying it will allocate a budget of about 4 to 7 million dollars for the program. The university provided details at a news conference on Thursday. It said it will begin accepting applications within three months. Eligible candidates are postdoctoral researchers working at US universities who have faced research funding cuts or dismissal since the start of the Trump administration. They will be employed at the university's Graduate School of Medicine for one year. There will be no restrictions on the field of expertise. The school will assign them to suitable laboratories based on their preferences. Dean Ishii Masaru of the graduate school expressed hope that recruiting talented researchers from different countries will contribute to the advancement of the university and science in Japan. The University of Osaka is also considering measures to assist international students who now face difficulties continuing their studies in the US. The support may include tuition waivers and assistance with travel-related procedures.
