Fossil of largest Jurassic pterosaur found on Skye

A 170-million-year-old winged reptile has been found in the rocks of the Isle of Skye.

AmeliaPenny spotted the sharp-toothed jaw in a layer of ancient limestone on the coast.

Detailed examination of the fossil skeleton has followed up on the initial discovery.

The studies show that the flying dinosaur had a 2.5m (8ft) wingspan.

Natalia Jagielska, a PhD student, led the research that showed the creature was a new species.

The name Dearc sgiathanach means "winged reptile" in the Gaelic language.

Researchers from the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow and the Staffin Museum in Skye had to extract the rock slab from which the fossil was trapped and bring it to the University of Edinburgh.

It was worth the effort.

Ms Jagielska said that Dearc is a fantastic example of why palaeontology will never cease to be amazing.

The dinosaur fossils are very rare.

As flying animals, their bones are light.

They don't usually preserve as fossils because they are incredibly fragile.

Scientists from the universities of Edinburgh and St Andrew's and the National Museums Scotland have been able to conclude that Dearc had good eyesight because of the completeness and condition of the specimen.

We look forward to studying Dearc in greater detail to discover more about how it lived.

Prof Steve Brusatte, of the University of Edinburgh, who was leading the field trip, called it a "superb Scottish fossil".

The best British skeleton since the days of Mary Anning has been preserved, and it is far beyond any pterosaur ever found in Scotland.

It tells us that pterosaurs got larger much earlier than we thought, and that is hugely significant.