Ancient flying reptile named after ‘Avatar’ creature

Some of the most visually stunning sequences from director James Cameron’s blockbuster movie “Avatar” involved graceful flying creatures that were ridden by blue human-like beings facing ecological destruction on a moon called Pandora. It turns out that an animal very similar to those “Avatar” creatures, called Ikran, actually did exist here on Earth long ago. Scientists on Thursday announced the discovery of fossils in China of a new species of flying reptile called a pterosaur that lived 120 millions years ago and so closely resembled the creatures from the 2009 film that they named it after them.

Of course, nobody and nothing can ride this pterosaur.

Xiaolin Wang, paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing

It is called Ikrandraco avatar, meaning “Ikran dragon” from “Avatar.” And this pterosaur is noteworthy for more than just its resemblance to a movie creature. The scientists said it appears that Ikrandraco avatar had a throat pouch similar to that of a pelican. It probably fed on small fish from freshwater lakes, flying low over the water and catching prey by skimming its lower jaw into the water, they said. It may have stored the fish in the pouch, they added. This Cretaceous Period pterosaur boasted an unusual blade-like crest on its lower jaw like the one on the movie creatures.

Science