Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:

Pterosaurs as part of a spinosaur diet

Nature volume 430, page 33 (2004)Cite this article

A rare fossilized action snapshot captures a mortal tussle with a hungry predator.

Abstract

A remarkable specimen has been discovered of an Early Cretaceous pterosaur that has a tooth embedded in one of its cervical vertebrae: the tooth has been identified as one from a spinosaurid theropod dinosaur. This fossil is direct evidence that spinosaurs included items other than fish in their diet.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Cervical vertebrae of a pterosaur, with a dinosaur tooth embedded in one.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Charig, A. J. & Milner, A. C. Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. (Geol.) 53, 11–70 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Holz, T. R. Science 282, 1276–1277 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Sues, H. -D., Frey, E., Martill, D. M. & Scott, D. M. J. Vert. Paleontol. 22, 535–547 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kitchener, A. Nature 325, 114 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Martill, D. M. Fossils of the Santana and Crato Formations, Brazil (Palaeontological Association, London, 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Wellnhofer, P. Palaeontographica A215, 43–101 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kellner, A. W. A. & Tomida, Y. Natl Sci. Mus. Monogr. 17, 1–135 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kellner, A. W. A. & Campos, D. de A. Neues Jb. Geol. Palaeontol. Abh. 199, 151–166 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Currie, P. J. & Jacobsen, A. R. Can. J. Earth Sci. 32, 922–925 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mazin, J. M., Billon-Bruyat, J. P., Hantzpergue, P. & Lafaurie, G. in Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs (eds Buffetaut, E. & Mazin, J. M.) 283–296 (Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec. Publ. 217, London, 2003).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNRS, 16 cour du Liégat, Paris, 75013, France

    Eric Buffetaut

  2. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3QL, UK

    David Martill

  3. Eldonia, Gannat, 03800, France

    François Escuillié

Authors
  1. Eric Buffetaut
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David Martill
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. François Escuillié
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric Buffetaut.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Buffetaut, E., Martill, D. & Escuillié, F. Pterosaurs as part of a spinosaur diet. Nature 430, 33 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/430033a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/430033a

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing