In Depth The discovery of the pterosaur Kepodactylus was actually a by-product of the recovery of a Stegosaurus in Garden Park, Colorado. This is how Kepodactylus got a name meaning ‘garden finger’. The species name insperatus is referenced to the discovery of Kepodactylus being a pleasant surprise to the dig team. Further Reading – A … Read more
In Depth Araripesaurus appears to be a dubious entry amongst pterosaurs because of the lack of distinguishing features. Even though it has been considered to be Santanadactylus, the same lack of distinguishing features mean that Araripesaurus cannot be reassigned to a different genus with certainty. Further material that was to be attributed to Araripesaurus has … Read more
In Depth Aymberedactylus is a genus of tapejarid pterosaur that lived in what is now Brazil during the early Cretaceous. At the time of the genus description the only fossils of Aymberedactylus are the lower jaws. These however seem to indicate that Aymberedactylus is one of the most primitive tapejarid pterosaurs known to us. Further … Read more
In Depth Afrotapejara is a genus of pterosaur that lived in North Africa at the time of the Early/Late Cretaceous boundary. Further Reading - A new ?chaoyangopterid (Pterosauria: Pterodactyloidea) from the Cretaceous Kem Kem beds of Southern Morocco. - Cretaceous Research. 110: Article 104410. - James McPhee, Nizar Ibrahim, Alex Kao, David M. Unwin, Roy … Read more
In Depth Though only known from a few fragmentary fossils, Allkaruen has already proven itself to be a very interesting pterosaur genus. Allkaruen is regarded as being intermediate in form between the more primitive rhamphorhynchid pterosaurs, and the more advanced pterodactyloid pterosaurs. Allkaruen also shows us that only certain parts of the body would change … Read more
In Depth Because so little fossil material is known about this pterosaur, it is impossible to say exactly what kind of pterosaur Araripedactylus was. Some have drawn similarities between the scant material of Araripedactylus and Anhanguera, but further comparison is at this time impossible. Further Reading Further reading- Araripedactylus dehmi nov. gen., nov. sp., ein … Read more
In Depth Angustinaripterus has been envisioned as being like Dorygnathus because of the similar dentition. Angustinaripterus had nine pairs of teeth in the upper jaw, three in the premaxillae and six in the maxilla itself. These meshed with ten pairs that were in the mandible. Overall the teeth were quite simple in that they were … Read more