![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2023/08/18/dee40b0c999346508e317fe6c79e1ea6.jpg)
Artist interpretation of Venetoraptor gassenae. (Photo provided to China News Service)
A team of paleontologists has found the fossilized remains of a creature they describe as a precursor to the pterosaur at a dig site in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The fossil has been dated back to approximately 230 million years ago.
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2023/08/18/e6cce4434f5e4fa4824b7be131f80094.jpg)
A skeleton and scaled reconstruction of newly classified reptile Venetoraptor gassenae dates back 233?million years. (Photo provided to China News Service)