Wukongopterus

Name: Wukongopterus (From Sun Wukonhg, after the character Monkey King form the novel 'Journey to the West').
Phonetic: Woo-kong-op-teh-russ.
Named By: Wang et al - 2009.
Classification: Cordata, Reptilia, Pterosauria, Wukongopteridae.
Species: W. lii (type).
Type: Carnivore/Piscivore.
Size: 73 centimetre wingspan.
Known locations: China, Liaoning Province - Daohugou Beds.
Time period: Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Single partially preserved specimen.

       Wukongopterus was a basal pterosaur and the examination of the type specimen has revealed that it may have broken its left tibia when alive. The specimen also reveals the possible presence of a membrane between the hind legs that was common to basal pterosaurs called the uropatagium. For more information on the uropatagium, refer to the article 'Pterosaurs - An Overview'.

Further reading
- An unusual long-tailed pterosaur with elongated neck from western Liaoning of China. - Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ci�ncias. 81 (4): 793–812. - X. Wang, A. W. A. Kellner, S. Jiang & X. Meng - 2009.

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