|
Pterodactyliformes
Monofenestrata is a clade of pterosaurs. It includes the pterosaurs in which the nasal and antorbital fenestra (openings/holes) in the skull are merged into a single fenestra. The clade includes the pterodactyloids and their close relatives. Classification The clade Monofenestrata was in 2010 defined as the group consisting of ''Pterodactylus'' and all species sharing with ''Pterodactylus'' the synapomorphy of an external nostril confluent with the antorbital fenestra, the major skull opening on the side of the snout. The name is derived from Greek ''monos'', "single", and Latin ''fenestra'', "window". The concept was inspired by the discovery of ''Darwinopterus'', a species combining a pterodactyloid-type skull with a more basal build of the remainder of the body. The Darwinoptera, a primitive subgroup of monofenestratans showing this transitional anatomy, was also named for ''Darwinopterus'' and defined as all descendants of its common ancestor with ''Pterorhynchus''. Below i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Skiphosoura
''Skiphosoura'' (meaning "sword tail") is an extinct genus of pterodactyliform pterosaurs from the Late Jurassic Mörnsheim Formation of Germany. The genus contains a single species, ''S. bavarica'', known from a nearly complete skeleton including a partial skull. ''Skiphosoura'' exhibits a transitional body morphology between more basal pterosaurs and later pterodactyloids. Discovery and naming The ''Skiphosoura'' holotype specimen, LF 4157, was discovered in 2015 in sediments of the Mörnsheim Formation (Schaudiberg Quarry, Dritter Kieselflinz Layer) near Solnhofen in Bavaria, Germany. After its preparation, the specimen was acquired in 2020 by the Illinois (USA)-based Lauer Foundation for Paleontology, where it is permanently reposited. The specimen is disarticulated but nearly complete, missing some metapodials, vertebrae, and part of the skull. Many of the bones are preserved three-dimensionally. In 2024, Hone et al. described ''Skiphosoura bavarica'' as a new genus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Changchengopterus
''Changchengopterus'' is a genus of non-pterodactyloid pterosaur from Qinglong County in Hebei Province, China. Discovery and naming The fossil specimen, holotype CYGB-0036, of the type and only species, ''Changchengopterus pani'', was found in the Tiaojishan Formation dating from the Callovian and named and described by Lü Junchang in 2009. The generic name combines the ''Changcheng'', the Great Wall of China, with a Latinised Greek ''pteron'', "wing". The specific name honours Pan Lijun, who collected the fossil and donated it to science. The holotype, a skeleton lacking the skull, represents a young juvenile, of which the combined paired wing elements measure just seventeen centimetres.Lü, J. (2009). "A new non-pterodactyloid pterosaur from Qinglong County, Hebei Province of China." ''Acta Geologica Sinica'' (English Edition), 83(2): 189-199. . In 2011, a second specimen was described, PMOL-AP00010, acquired in 2008 by the Paleontological Museum of Liaoning. It consists o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Propterodactylus
''Propterodactylus'' (meaning "before ''Pterodactylus''") is an extinct genus of Transitional fossil, transitional monofenestratan pterosaurs from the Late Jurassic Painten Formation of Germany. The genus contains a Monotypic taxon, single species, ''P. frankerlae'', known from a complete articulated skeleton. Before its naming, ''Propterodactylus'' was referred to as the "Painten " in the scientific literature. Discovery and naming The ''Propterodactylus'' holotype specimen, Dinosaurier Museum Altmühltal, DMA-JP-2011/006, was discovered in April 2011 in the Rygol lime works quarry of the Painten Formation (Ulmense subzone) near Painten in Bavaria, Germany. The nearly-perfect specimen consists of an Joint, articulated complete skeleton with preserved soft tissues. In 2024, Frederik Spindler Species description, described ''Propterodactylus frankerlae'' as a new genus and species of monofenestratan pterosaur based on these fossil remains. The Genus, generic name, ''Propterodact ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pterosaur
Pterosaurs are an extinct clade of flying reptiles in the order Pterosauria. They existed during most of the Mesozoic: from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous (228 million to 66 million years ago). Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight. Their wings were formed by a membrane of skin, muscle, and other tissues stretching from the ankles to a dramatically lengthened fourth finger. There were two major types of pterosaurs. Basal pterosaurs (also called 'non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs' or ' rhamphorhynchoids') were smaller animals with fully toothed jaws and, typically, long tails. Their wide wing membranes probably included and connected the hind legs. On the ground, they would have had an awkward sprawling posture, but the anatomy of their joints and strong claws would have made them effective climbers, and some may have even lived in trees. Basal pterosaurs were insectivores or predators of small vertebrates. Later pte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Darwinopterus
''Darwinopterus'' (meaning "Darwin's wing") is a genus of pterosaur, discovered in China and named after biologist Charles Darwin. Between 30 and 40 fossil specimens have been identified, all collected from the Tiaojishan Formation, which dates to the middle Jurassic period, 160.89–160.25 Ma ago.Liu Y.-Q. Kuang H.-W., Jiang X.-J., Peng N., Xu H. & Sun H.-Y. (2012). "Timing of the earliest known feathered dinosaurs and transitional pterosaurs older than the Jehol Biota." ''Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology'' (advance online publication). The type species, ''D. modularis'', was described in February 2010. ''D. modularis'' was the first known pterosaur to display features of both long-tailed (" rhamphorhynchoid") and short-tailed ( pterodactyloid) pterosaurs, and was described as a transitional fossil between the two groups.Dell'Amore, C. (2009)"Odd New Pterosaur: 'Darwin's Wing' Fills Evolution Gap."''National Geographic News'', 13 October 2009. Accessed 14 October ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pterodactylomorpha
Pterosaurs are an extinct clade of flying reptiles in the order Pterosauria. They existed during most of the Mesozoic: from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous (228 million to 66 million years ago). Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight. Their wings were formed by a membrane of skin, muscle, and other tissues stretching from the ankles to a dramatically lengthened fourth finger. There were two major types of pterosaurs. Basal pterosaurs (also called 'non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs' or 'rhamphorhynchoids') were smaller animals with fully toothed jaws and, typically, long tails. Their wide wing membranes probably included and connected the hind legs. On the ground, they would have had an awkward sprawling posture, but the anatomy of their joints and strong claws would have made them effective climbers, and some may have even lived in trees. Basal pterosaurs were insectivores or predators of small vertebrates. Later pterosa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Synapomorphy
In phylogenetics, an apomorphy (or derived trait) is a novel Phenotypic trait, character or character state that has evolution, evolved from its ancestral form (or Plesiomorphy and symplesiomorphy, plesiomorphy). A synapomorphy is an apomorphy shared by two or more taxon, taxa and is therefore Hypothesis#Scientific hypothesis, hypothesized to have evolved in their most recent common ancestor. ) In cladistics, synapomorphy implies Homology (biology), homology. Examples of apomorphy are the presence of Terrestrial locomotion#Posture, erect gait, fur, Evolution of mammalian auditory ossicles, the evolution of three middle ear bones, and mammary glands in mammals but not in other vertebrate animals such as amphibians or reptiles, which have retained their ancestral traits of a Terrestrial locomotion#Posture, sprawling gait and lack of fur. Thus, these derived traits are also synapomorphies of mammals in general as they are not shared by other vertebrate animals. Etymology The word ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Greek Language
Greek (, ; , ) is an Indo-European languages, Indo-European language, constituting an independent Hellenic languages, Hellenic branch within the Indo-European language family. It is native to Greece, Cyprus, Italy (in Calabria and Salento), southern Albania, and other regions of the Balkans, Caucasus, the Black Sea coast, Asia Minor, and the Eastern Mediterranean. It has the list of languages by first written accounts, longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning at least 3,400 years of written records. Its writing system is the Greek alphabet, which has been used for approximately 2,800 years; previously, Greek was recorded in writing systems such as Linear B and the Cypriot syllabary. The Greek language holds a very important place in the history of the Western world. Beginning with the epics of Homer, ancient Greek literature includes many works of lasting importance in the European canon. Greek is also the language in which many of the foundational texts ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area around Rome, Italy. Through the expansion of the Roman Republic, it became the dominant language in the Italian Peninsula and subsequently throughout the Roman Empire. It has greatly influenced many languages, Latin influence in English, including English, having contributed List of Latin words with English derivatives, many words to the English lexicon, particularly after the Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England, Christianization of the Anglo-Saxons and the Norman Conquest. Latin Root (linguistics), roots appear frequently in the technical vocabulary used by fields such as theology, List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names, the sciences, List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes, medicine, and List of Latin legal terms ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melkamter (life Restoration)
''Melkamter'' () (meaning "winged lizard") is an extinct genus of monofenestratan pterosaurs from the Early Jurassic Cañadón Asfalto Formation of Argentina. The genus contains a single species, ''M. pateko'', known from a partial skull and fragmentary postcranium. ''Melkamter'' represents the oldest known monofenestratan pterosaur in the fossil record. Discovery and naming The ''Melkamter'' holotype specimen, MPEF-PV 11530, was discovered in sediments of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation (Queso Rallado locality) near the Cerro Cóndor village of Chubut Province, Argentina. The specimen consists of a partial cranium preserved on a slab and counterslab, two teeth, four dorsal vertebrae, a wing metacarpal, and other unidentified bone fragments. The fossil material was first reported at an academic conference in 2024 before its formal description. In 2024, Fernandes, Pol & Rauhut described ''Melkamter pateko'' as a new genus and species of early monofenestratan pterosaurs ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Current Biology
''Current Biology'' is a biweekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers all areas of biology, especially molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, neurobiology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. The journal includes research articles, various types of review articles, as well as an editorial magazine section. The journal was established in 1991 by the Current Science group, was acquired by Elsevier in 1998, and has since 2001 been part of Cell Press, a subdivision of Elsevier. According to '' Journal Citation Reports'', the journal has a 2020 impact factor of 10.834. It was categorized as a "high impact journal" by the Superfund Research Program. References External links * Biology journals English-language journals Cell Press academic journals Academic journals established in 1991 Biweekly journals {{biology-journal-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pterodactyloid
Pterodactyloidea ( ; derived from the Greek words ''πτερόν'' (''pterón'', for usual ''ptéryx'') "wing", and ''δάκτυλος'' (''dáktylos'') "finger") is one of the two traditional suborders of pterosaurs ("wing lizards"), and contains the most derived members of this group of flying reptiles. They appeared during the middle Jurassic Period, and differ from the basal (though paraphyletic) rhamphorhynchoids by their short tails and long wing metacarpals (hand bones). The most advanced forms also lack teeth, and by the late Cretaceous, all known pterodactyloids were toothless. Many species had well-developed crests on the skull, a form of display taken to extremes in giant-crested forms like '' Nyctosaurus'' and '' Tupandactylus''. Pterodactyloids were the last surviving pterosaurs when the order became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period, together with the non-avian dinosaurs and most marine reptiles. " Pterodactyl" is also a common term for pterodactyloid pte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
