A nine-year-old girl has had a prehistoric beast named in
her honour after fossilised bones she found turned out to be an undiscovered
species.
Daisy Morris from the Isle of Wight
stumbled upon the remains on Atherfield beach four years ago.
A scientific paper stated the newly discovered species of
pterosaur would be called Vectidraco daisymorrisae.
Fossil expert Martin Simpson said this was an example of
how "major discoveries can be made by amateurs".
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Vectidraco means 'dragon from the
and daisymorrisae honours Daisy Morris
|
Daisy's mum Sian Morris said her daughter had started
fossil hunting aged three and came across the blackened "bones sticking
out of the sand" in 2009, when she was four years old.
The Morris family, from Whitwell, approached Southampton University
"I knew I was looking at something very special. And
I was right," said Mr Simpson.
The fossil turned out to be a new genus and species of
small pterosaur; a flying reptile from the Lower Cretaceous period.
Watch video and continue reading: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-21850080
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