Araripedactylus

A-ra-ri-pe-dak-tyl-us.
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Emerson Winslow

Paleoichthyologist

Emerson Winslow delves into the underwater world of prehistoric fish, uncovering the mysteries of early marine life. His discoveries have enhanced understanding of vertebrate evolution in aquatic environments.

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Name

Araripedactylus (Araripe finger).

Phonetic

A-ra-ri-pe-dak-tyl-us.

Named By

Peter Wellnhofer - 1977.

Classification

Chordata, Reptilia, Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea.

Diet

Unknown due to incomplete fossil material.

Species

A. dehmi

Size

Wingspan estimated at being around 4.8 to 5 meters wide.

Known locations

Brazil - Santana Formation.

Time Period

Albian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

First phalanx of the right wing finger.

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 neuer Flugsaurier aus der Unterkreide von Brasilien. – Mitteilungen dr Bayerischen Staatssammlung f�r Pal�ontologie und historische Geologie 17:157-167. – P. Wellnhofer – 1977.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT