Wukongopterus

Woo-kong-op-teh-russ.
Published on

Harper Gray

Paleoartist

Harper Grey combines artistic talent with scientific precision to bring extinct creatures and environments back to life. Collaborating closely with paleontologists

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Wukongopterus (From Sun Wukonhg, after the character Monkey King form the novel 'Journey to the West').

Phonetic

Woo-kong-op-teh-russ.

Named By

Wang et al - 2009.

Classification

Cordata, Reptilia, Pterosauria, Wukongopteridae.

Diet

Carnivore/Piscivore.

Species

W. lii (type)

Size

73 centimetre wingspan.

Known locations

China, Liaoning Province - Daohugou Beds.

Time Period

Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Single partially preserved specimen.

In Depth

       Wukongopterus was a basal pterosaur and the examination of the type specimen has revealed that it may have broken its left tibia when alive. The specimen also reveals the possible presence of a membrane between the hind legs that was common to basal pterosaurs called the uropatagium. For more information on the uropatagium, refer to the article ‘Pterosaurs – An Overview‘.

Further Reading

Further reading- An unusual long-tailed pterosaur with elongated neck from western Liaoning of China. – Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ci�ncias. 81 (4): 793–812. – X. Wang, A. W. A. Kellner, S. Jiang & X. Meng – 2009.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT