In Depth Not much can be said about Comodactylus because it is only known from a fourth metacarpal, the hyper extended finger that made up the outer trailing edge of the wing. The prooportions of the bones have at least indicated that Comodactylus belongs within the Rhamphorhynchoidea group of pterosaurs, although if the size estimates … Read more
In Depth Because of the way the teeth were arranged, Liaoxipterus was initially thought to have been a filter feeder of the ctenochasmatid group of pterosaurs, however Liaoxipterus had a lower number of teeth than others members of this group. Later studies in 2006 and 2008 respectively have now placed Liaoxipterus into the istiodactylid pterosaur … Read more
In Depth The western word for naming a genus dragon is ‘draco’, in China its ‘long’, but Azhdarcho is the Uzbek word for such a mythical beast. Azhdarcho is also the centre for the azdarchid line of pterosaurs. The azhdarchids are known for having long necks, the result of neck vertebrae that are longer in … Read more
In Depth Faxinalipterus is a contender for the oldest known pterosaur, although some have put forward the notion that it may be a form of reptile just before true pterosaurs. Whichever may yet prove correct, the fact that Faxinalipterusis only known from a terrestrial location is taken by some to prove that pterosaurs evolved inland … Read more
In Depth Anurognathus seems to have had a disproportionately large skull for such a small creature, but nevertheless, shows adaptations suited to an insectivorous diet. The teeth are small and sharp, and the head is wider than it is long. The eyes are also large and slightly face forwards allowing for some depth perception through … Read more
In Depth Draigwenia is a genus of pterosaur that lived in Europe during the early Cretaceous. Draigwenia is only known from a jaw fragment which over time has previously been attributed to Ornithocheirus, Amblydectes and Lonchodectes before being moved to a distinct genus in 2021. Further reading - On the validity of the genus Amblydectes … Read more
In Depth Linlongopterus is a genus of pterosaurs that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading - A new toothed pteranodontoid (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Jiufotang Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Aptian) of China and comments on Liaoningopterus gui Wang and Zhou, 2003. - Historical Biology 27(6):782-795. - T. Rodrigues, S. Jiang, X. Cheng, X. … Read more
In Depth The phylogentic classification of Tapejara has been quite turbulent with a total of three species once being attributed to the genus with the one surviving species is the first type specimen, Tapejara wellnhoferi. The two other species Tapejara imperator and Tapejara navigans have since been split to form the new genus Tupandactylus. Another … Read more
In Depth Maaradactylus is a genus of anhangeurid pterosaur that lived in Brazil during the early Cretaceous. Maaradactylus is known to have had thirty-five pairs of teeth in the upper jaw as well as a crest rising up from the front of the upper jaw. Being a member of the Anhangueridae, Maaradactylus would have been … Read more
In Depth The genus Pterodactylus was the first ever pterosaur named, however it suffered from the wastebasket taxon effect for the first fifty to hundred years of its history, and since this time many former species have been re-identified as being similar yet very distinct genera. Aerodactylus is yet another example of this, being originally … Read more