Pterodactyls, or "winged dinosaurs," were born from egg cells, according to new research by a Chinese professor.

The discovery, which was featured in the latest issue of the British magazine Nature, was made by Prof. Ji Qiang, at the Geoscience Department of Nanjing University in east China's Jiangsu Province.

It remains controversial among scientists worldwide whether pterodactyls, Mesozoic reptiles capable of flight, were viviparous or oviparous. This is because scientists around the world haven't found any convincing evidence of the origin of pterodactyls.

Chinese archaeologists discovered a fossilized pterodactyl egg in Yixian County in northeast China's Liaoning Province in September 2003. The egg, 6.3 cm by 3.6 cm, contains a complete embryo with the head, teeth and hindbrain skull.

Based on this discovery, Ji determined that the fossilized egg had a soft shell, which indicating the oviparous nature of pterodactyls.

The significance of the discovery lies in its value in helping further research in pterodactyls' reproduction, evolution and living environment.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2005)