Fire-Sickle Wing - dinosaur

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Pteranodon ignifalcis: A Breakthrough in Pterosaur Pigmentation

In 2025, paleontologist Dr. Celeste Navarro led a multidisciplinary team in the Flaming Cliffs region of Mongolia, uncovering a remarkably preserved pterosaur specimen. Named Pteranodon ignifalcis—“Fire-Sickle Wing”—this Late Cretaceous flyer exhibited elongated cranial crests, clawed feet, and pigment-bearing integument with iridescent orange and teal hues.

Spectroscopic analysis revealed nanostructures consistent with structural coloration, marking the first confirmed evidence of iridescence in pterosaurs. The find suggests that visual signaling may have played a role in mating or territorial behavior, challenging prior assumptions of muted coloration in aerial reptiles. P. ignifalcis reshapes our understanding of pterosaur ecology, offering new insight into the evolution of flight, display, and sensory adaptation in prehistoric skies.