By Victoria Woollaston and Sarah Griffiths Eggs belonging to an ancient flying reptile that could grow to the size of a small aircraft have been discovered in China. It is the first time eggs laid by a pterosaur have been found fully intact, and palaeontologists claim they could shed new light on a mysterious, previously unknown species. The fossils were discovered in the Xinjiang Province, and suggest that at least some of the animals lived in large nesting colonies, much like modern birds. Discovered: Palaeontologists have found eggs laid by a pterosaur for the first time and they say that the discovery could shed new light on the mysterious ancient reptiles
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The five fossil eggs were found in Xinjiang Province, north west China
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All belonged to an unknown pterosaur species - Hamipterus tianshanensis
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This species is thought to have had a wingspan of between five and 11ft
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The find suggests at least some of the creatures lived in large nesting colonies, much like modern birds
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Previously, the only pterosaur eggs found were four poorly preserved and flattened specimens
The @placeholder eggs were not soft and leathery, such as those of most reptiles, nor were they hard like a bird’s.