British scientists have uncovered the mystery of why ancient flying lizards developed crests on their heads.
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| Flying lizard with a vibrant and impressive yellow crest (Photo: BBC) |
A rare skull discovered in Brazil indicates that the crest developed at puberty, suggesting it was used to attract the attention of the opposite sex.
Experts at the University of Portsmouth state that flying lizards, which dominated the skies during the age of dinosaurs, flaunted head ornaments to entice mates.
According to paleontologist Darren Naish, the crest serves as a sign of sexual maturity, akin to a peacock’s tail used to attract females.
“It’s similar to the crest of a giant rooster, with vibrant colors and an impressive structure to showcase. They may have wiggled it to attract mates,” Naish explained.
The hypothesis is based on the skull of a flying lizard species known as Tupuxuara, recently excavated in northeastern Brazil. This is a rare find as only a few specimens exist worldwide, all belonging to fully developed individuals.
Experts examined the skull and discovered that the crest was different during its juvenile stage. Instead of forming a large triangular crest extending from the snout to the back of the head, it consisted of two pieces. One piece pointed backward toward the back of the head, while the other faced forward toward the snout. The forward crest gradually developed backward and fused as they reached sexual maturity.
“This is a significant discovery as it links crest development to body maturity and relates to sexual selection,” Naish stated. “This specimen is extremely rare, and it’s exciting to extract more information about flying lizards.”
M.T
