Nature December 2020 PMID 33299179

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria.

Martín D Ezcurra, Sterling J Nesbitt, Mario Bronzati, Fabio Marco Dalla Vecchia, Federico L Agnolin, Roger B J Benson, Federico Brissón Egli, Sergio F Cabreira, Serjoscha W Evers, Adriel R Gentil, Randall B Irmis, Agustín G Martinelli, Fernando E Novas, Lúcio Roberto da Silva, Nathan D Smith

Mentions

191
Peak: 40 in Dec 2020
across 5 sources since Dec 2020

Extended reach

218,222
potential audience

Total likes

1,628

Video views

28,718

Mentions per month

Dec 2020 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News118 articles
  • X / Twitter40 posts
  • Blogs21 articles
  • Facebook10 posts
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Several posts emphasize the significance of the fossil discoveries and their role in bridging evolutionary gaps, using phrases like 'EXCELLENT!!' and 'substantially shortens the gap,' which convey excitement and support. The mention of specific groups like lagerpetids and the use of scientific terminology reflects deep interest and engagement, contributing to the overall positive and moderate impact perception.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions express enthusiasm and support for the significance of the findings, with comments like 'EXCELLENT!!' and 'substantially shortens the gap,' showing agreement with the importance of the research.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high curiosity and relevance, referencing specific taxa and concepts such as lagerpetids, pterosaurs, and evolutionary implications, indicating strong interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several contributions mention the implications for understanding evolution and new fossil evidence, showing a moderate level of engagement through referencing methods and scientific context.

ImpactModerate impact

While some posts highlight the groundbreaking nature of the discovery, the overall perception suggests that the publication is seen as impactful but not universally transformative, scoring a middle level.

Abstract in brief

  • Recent fossil discoveries and advanced imaging techniques reveal that lagerpetids, a group of dinosaur precursors, are closely related to pterosaurs, shortening the gap in both time and form between early reptiles and powered flight.
  • This evidence suggests pterosaurs are part of the bird-like archosaur line, sharing numerous skeletal features with lagerpetids, and indicates that key sensory abilities were present before they took to the air.
  • The findings provide a clearer understanding of how pterosaurs evolved their unique body plan for flight, marking a significant milestone in vertebrate evolution.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
@TomHoltzPaleo · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 77 likes · 20 shares · 31,853 followers View post →
Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont
@ICP_MCrusafont · X

A new @nature study reveals that lagerpetids —an ancient group of small reptiles that lived about 237-210 million years ago— are more closely related to pterosaurs (flying reptiles) than any other known group in the animal kingdom. DOI: https://t.co/vYiGsdhz0E https://t.co/dJBpTHuHEM

Dec 9, 2020 · 14 likes · 5 shares · 2,360 followers View post →
Francis Villatoro
@emulenews · X

#Nature Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/8TEnbOdelk a finding that substantially shortens the temporal and morphological gap between the oldest pterosaurs and their closest relatives. https://t.co/jRknWk1nKe

Dec 9, 2020 · 6 likes · 45,155 followers View post →
XCsci
@XCsci · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of #Pterosauria Ezcurra et al. 2020 https://t.co/zMKvnmHPeb (£) #Lagerpeton #Ixalerpeton #Kongonaphon #Dromomeron #siipisaurit #evoluutio https://t.co/QcWq74zCP4

Dec 10, 2020 · 6 likes · 4 shares · 7,289 followers View post →
Jente Ottenburghs | Avian Hybrids
@Jente_O · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria | Nature https://t.co/E3b8rp8R5Y

Dec 10, 2020 · 2 likes · 4,045 followers View post →
Valeria Tavares
@ValeriaCTavares · X

❤️ Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria | Nature https://t.co/Qeqr8srJGe

Dec 9, 2020 · 2 likes · 1,080 followers View post →

All mentions

Ben Schulz
@bnschlz · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/KGIUTb2A7Z

Dec 14, 2020 · 3,326 followers View post →
Jeffrey Rubinoff
@QuietJeffR · X

Just learned about this on #tetzoomcon via @WryCritic: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria | Nature https://t.co/3j3ULK8Fk5

Dec 12, 2020 · 1 like · 532 followers View post →
Himender Bharti
@adubharti · X

RT @XCsci: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of #Pterosauria Ezcurra et al. 2020 https://t.co/zMKvnmHPeb (£) #La…

Dec 11, 2020 · 4 shares · 1,326 followers View post →
Bobby (Just Being Me)
@Dilophosaur13 · X

RT @XCsci: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of #Pterosauria Ezcurra et al. 2020 https://t.co/zMKvnmHPeb (£) #La…

Dec 10, 2020 · 4 shares · 1,234 followers View post →
Jente Ottenburghs | Avian Hybrids
@Jente_O · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria | Nature https://t.co/E3b8rp8R5Y

Dec 10, 2020 · 2 likes · 4,045 followers View post →
Arjuna Rajakumar, PhD
@ArjunaRajakumar · X

RT @Rajee_Rajakumar:

Dec 10, 2020 · 1 share · 1,151 followers View post →
God?LOL
@rockinrobray · X

RT @XCsci: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of #Pterosauria Ezcurra et al. 2020 https://t.co/zMKvnmHPeb (£) #La…

Dec 10, 2020 · 4 shares · 8,624 followers View post →
Endling Ember
@EndlingEmber · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 10, 2020 · 20 shares · 666 followers View post →
Erik Svensson
@EvolOdonata · X

RT @XCsci: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of #Pterosauria Ezcurra et al. 2020 https://t.co/zMKvnmHPeb (£) #La…

Dec 10, 2020 · 4 shares · 7,913 followers View post →
XCsci
@XCsci · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of #Pterosauria Ezcurra et al. 2020 https://t.co/zMKvnmHPeb (£) #Lagerpeton #Ixalerpeton #Kongonaphon #Dromomeron #siipisaurit #evoluutio https://t.co/QcWq74zCP4

Dec 10, 2020 · 6 likes · 4 shares · 7,289 followers View post →
Rajendhran Rajakumar
@Rajee_Rajakumar · X

Dec 10, 2020 · 1 like · 1 share · 1,270 followers View post →
루마인
@xxxxrumine · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/6nZwiSS94b Martín D. Ezcurra

Dec 9, 2020 · 13 followers View post →
Bobby (Just Being Me)
@Dilophosaur13 · X

RT @PalaeoPictures: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/1A0ZcWa5SE https://t.co/Kv8vUq…

Dec 9, 2020 · 1 share · 1,234 followers View post →
Palaeo Pictures
@PalaeoPictures · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/1A0ZcWa5SE https://t.co/Kv8vUqxTp6 #evolution #dino #dinosaur #dinosaurs #palaeontology #paleontology #prehistoric #prehistory #paleontologists #palaeo #palaeontologist #paleo #fossils https://t.co/xshwTX0Q7O

Dec 9, 2020 · 1 like · 1 share · 476 followers View post →
とよけらとぷす
@rex_toyo · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 2,152 followers View post →
$.inequali$ sitting on fence
@sinequalis · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 389 followers View post →
Antonio Cano
@Apcanoc · X

RT @ICP_MCrusafont: A new @nature study reveals that lagerpetids —an ancient group of small reptiles that lived about 237-210 million years…

Dec 9, 2020 · 5 shares · 706 followers View post →
Sergio González Mora
@PhylumBryozoa · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 987 followers View post →
KenjiDraco
@KenjiDraco · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 275 followers View post →
Thubandactylus. L'Ignito Nefario.
@Thuban_Isesi · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 741 followers View post →
Dave Harvey & the Spatial Fix
@MsHavishamwow · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 621 followers View post →
Gabriel N. U.
@SerpenIllus · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 53,881 followers View post →
Aaron Quigley
@AaronQuigley11 · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 279 followers View post →
Oriol Monclús Gonzalo
@euarchont · X

RT @ICP_MCrusafont: A new @nature study reveals that lagerpetids —an ancient group of small reptiles that lived about 237-210 million years…

Dec 9, 2020 · 5 shares · 374 followers View post →
VelociTrevor
@VelociTrevor · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 160 followers View post →
Valeria Tavares
@ValeriaCTavares · X

❤️ Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria | Nature https://t.co/Qeqr8srJGe

Dec 9, 2020 · 2 likes · 1,080 followers View post →
Francis Villatoro
@emulenews · X

#Nature Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/8TEnbOdelk a finding that substantially shortens the temporal and morphological gap between the oldest pterosaurs and their closest relatives. https://t.co/jRknWk1nKe

Dec 9, 2020 · 6 likes · 45,155 followers View post →
Diego Castanera
@CastaneraDiego · X

RT @ICP_MCrusafont: A new @nature study reveals that lagerpetids —an ancient group of small reptiles that lived about 237-210 million years…

Dec 9, 2020 · 5 shares · 421 followers View post →
Bobby (Just Being Me)
@Dilophosaur13 · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 1,234 followers View post →
Dino Chu
@Dino_Dobrowski · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 1,101 followers View post →
Sergio Álvarez-Parra
@SrAmbarez · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 470 followers View post →
Marcos K. Pinheiro / "Marcos Wyvern" (Marcosaurus)
@BongMarcosaurus · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 1,007 followers View post →
Lluís Checa Soler
@checa_soler · X

RT @ICP_MCrusafont: A new @nature study reveals that lagerpetids —an ancient group of small reptiles that lived about 237-210 million years…

Dec 9, 2020 · 5 shares · 208 followers View post →
Nomen dubium: Ecos desde Pangea
@dubium_nomen · X

RT @ICP_MCrusafont: A new @nature study reveals that lagerpetids —an ancient group of small reptiles that lived about 237-210 million years…

Dec 9, 2020 · 5 shares · 374 followers View post →
Antônio Albuquerque
@antoniopedroalb · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 533 followers View post →
SJW Godzilla Punishes Hubris
@majingojira1 · X

RT @TomHoltzPaleo: Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 20 shares · 489 followers View post →
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
@TomHoltzPaleo · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/Q5c02KbEDj EXCELLENT!!

Dec 9, 2020 · 77 likes · 20 shares · 31,853 followers View post →
Roger
@Secernosaurus · X

Lagerpetidae como Pterosauromorfos

Dec 9, 2020 · 2 likes · 78 followers View post →
Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont
@ICP_MCrusafont · X

A new @nature study reveals that lagerpetids —an ancient group of small reptiles that lived about 237-210 million years ago— are more closely related to pterosaurs (flying reptiles) than any other known group in the animal kingdom. DOI: https://t.co/vYiGsdhz0E https://t.co/dJBpTHuHEM

Dec 9, 2020 · 14 likes · 5 shares · 2,360 followers View post →
fernanda castano
@ferwen · X

Enigmatic dinosaur precursors bridge the gap to the origin of Pterosauria https://t.co/veLmEUsnJP

Dec 9, 2020 · 1 like · 2,691 followers View post →