Name:
Eosipterus
(Dawn wing).
Phonetic: E-oh-sip-teh-rus.
Named By: Ji Shu'an & Ji Qiang - 1997.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Pterosauria,
Pterodactyloidea.
Species: E. yangi (type).
Diet: Piscivore/Carnivore.
Size: Estimated 1.2 meter wingspan.
Known locations: China, Liaoning Province - Yixian
Formation.
Time period: Barremian to Aptian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Partial skeleton.
Eosipterus
has enjoyed a variable position amongst the pterosaurs
first being
thought to be similar to Pterodactylus,
then thought to have been a
member of the filter feeding ctenochasmid pterosaurs, perhaps like
Gnathosaurus,
to ultimately being declared to be similar to
Germanodactylus.
The overall physiology of Eosipterus is quite
robust,
especially the wings. The interesting thing about Eosipterus
is how the
legs are proportionately smaller to other pterosaurs with a reduced
fibula. The fifth toe is also only represented by a claw, with the
claws on the other four toes being curved.
These
adaptations may suggest that Eosipterus did not
spend a lot of time on
the ground, and may have been more at home amongst the trees. The
curved claws could be used for gripping into bark, the legs not being
used for ground locomotion became underdeveloped, and the wings being
more robust would be better able to withstand brushes and scrapes with
branches as Eosipterus flew amongst the trees.
Further reading
- The first discovery of a
pterosaur from western Liaoning Province (Eosipterus yangi gen. et sp.
nov.). - Acta Geologica Sinica 71(1):1-6. - S.-A. Ji & Q. Ji -
1997.