Eopteranodon

E-oh-teh-ran-o-don (the P is silent and not pronounced).
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Claire Morris

Marine Paleontologist

Claire Morris has dedicated her career to exploring the depths of prehistoric oceans. Her fascination with ancient marine life has led her to discover significant fossils that illuminate the evolution of early sea creatures.

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Name

Eopteranodon (Dawn Pteranodon).

Phonetic

E-oh-teh-ran-o-don (the P is silent and not pronounced).

Named By

L� Junchang & Xang Xingliao - 2005.

Classification

Chordata, Reptilia, Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea, Azhdarchoidea, Chaoyangopteridae.

Diet

Uncertain but presumed to be either a piscivore or carnivore.

Species

E. lii

Size

1.1 meter wingspan. Skull 20 centimetres long.

Known locations

China, Liaoning Province, Yixian Formation.

Time Period

Aptian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Skull and partial post cranial remains.

In Depth

       Eopteranodon gets its name from how its jaws and crest look like those on the more famous pterosaur Pteranodon that existed later in the Cretaceous of North America. Eopteranodon however was not only much smaller than Pteranodon but it is actually of a different pterosaur family.

Further Reading

Further reading- New pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Yixian Formation of Western Liaoning. Geological Review 51(4):458-462. – J. L� & B. Zhang – 2005.

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