Extinct Creatures-- Sharovipteryx (Patreon)

Continuing with the Triassic Weirdos, here's Sharovipteryx, a creature closely related to archosaurs (it's in the group archosauromorpha, all creatures more closely related to archosaurs than to lizards and snakes). It was a glider, and as you can see, it sure was a weirdo.

We only have one fossil specimen of Sharovipteryx, and during preparation, the arms and any membranes that may have been attached to them were mistakenly cleared away. So we don't really know what they could have looked like, all we have are these beautiful gams and a lot of unanswered questions. 

We do know this little creature lived in trees and ate bugs, so some folks have proposed it may have had longer front limbs than we usually give it, since short limbs would be difficult for climbing. Additionally, we know it must have had some membrane attached to the front limbs, since as is, it would be a very sloppy glider. But we don't know where those membranes would go or what they look like. It is such a mystery!

Here's hoping we find another fossil one day and clear all this up. But in the meantime, we can appreciate this very silly animal.