Chinese scientists find 1st fossil embryo

Chinese scientists have discovered the world's first fossilised embryonic pterosaur, the flying reptile that lived alongside the dinosaurs.

The embryo, dated to 121 million years ago, was found snuggled inside fragments of eggshell, its leathery wing membranes and skin imprints "exquisitely preserved".
Xiaolin Wang and Zhonghe Zhou of the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences published their research in the current issue of the journal Nature.

"Dinosaur embryos have been discovered all over the world, but so far no pterosaur embryos have been reported," the scientists said.