Pterosaur named after nine-year-old girl who discovered it

[Perodicticus potto]

From National Geographic:

A new species of crow-size pterosaur has been named in honor of the nine-year-old fossil hunter who discovered it, a new study says.

The new species of pterosaur—a type of flying reptile that lived alongside the dinosaurs—was dubbed Vectidraco daisymorrisae after U.K. youngster Daisy Morris.

While exploring the U.K.'s Isle of Wight (map) in 2008, the then-five-year-old Morris came across blackened "bones sticking out of the sand," according to the BBC. (Vectidraco means "dragon from the Isle of Wight" in Latin.)

The Morris family brought the fossil to paleontologist Martin Simpson at the University of Southampton, who, with the help of colleagues, identified it as a new species.

 

[tlcya]

aw, how cool for her!

 

[Reader]

Great story, thanks!