A University of Wisconsin—Oshkosh professor, Joe Peterson, has been credited as part of a team that discovered a new species of pterosaur. This winged reptile, which lived alongside the Tyrannosaurus rex about 67 million years ago, has been named Infernodrakon hostacollis.
Peterson recounted his involvement in the discovery process: “We first found this bone around 2002,” he said. The fossil was initially unearthed during an excavation at Hell Creek, Montana. At the time, it was identified as belonging to a pterosaur but not specifically recognized as a new genus or species.
The Infernodrakon is notable for its impressive wingspan of approximately 16 feet and its human-height stature when on the ground. “Pterosaurs evolved before birds did,” Peterson explained. “These were the first vertebrate animals to achieve flight.”
The breakthrough came when a graduate student from Berkeley reexamined the neck bone several years ago, leading to its identification as a distinct genus and species. “So, we looked at it again, compared it to the new literature on the species and realized this is something totally different than we’ve ever seen,” Peterson stated.
Reflecting on scientific progress, Peterson noted: “That first (juvenile T. rex) paper we published on the specimen in 2005 was the first paper I ever published,” adding that science involves continuous reassessment and correction.
Peterson continues his academic pursuits at UWO where he teaches courses related to dinosaurs and paleontology while also conducting research into fossilization processes and prehistoric animal behaviors.
As they await peer feedback on their findings about another late-Cretaceous creature, Peterson remarked: “The real peer review comes now when other researchers play with this idea.” He emphasized how such discoveries contribute to understanding ancient ecosystems by revealing more about diverse organisms that existed during that period.
