|
Azhdarchidae
Azhdarchidae (from the Persian word , , a dragon-like creature in Persian mythology) is a family of pterosaurs known primarily from the Late Cretaceous Period, though an isolated vertebra apparently from an azhdarchid is known from the Early Cretaceous as well (late Berriasian age, about 140 million years ago). Azhdarchids include some of the largest flying animals discovered, but smaller cat-size members have also been found. Originally considered a sub-family of Pteranodontidae, Nesov (1984) named the Azhdarchinae to include the pterosaurs '' Azhdarcho'', ''Quetzalcoatlus'', and ''Titanopteryx'' (now known as '' Arambourgiania''). They were among the last known surviving members of the pterosaurs, and were a rather successful group with a worldwide distribution. Previously it was thought that by the end of the Cretaceous, most pterosaur families except for the Azhdarchidae disappeared from the fossil record, but recent studies indicate a wealth of pterosaurian fauna, including ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arambourgiania
''Arambourgiania'' (meaning "Camille Arambourg, Camille Arambourg's") is a genus of pterosaur, an extinct group of flying Reptile, reptiles, that inhabited Jordan during the Maastrichtian age of the Cretaceous, Cretaceous period, around 72 to 66 million years ago. Additional fossil remains from the United States and Morocco have also been found, but their assignment to ''Arambourgiania'' is only tentative. The holotype (name-bearing) specimen was discovered in 1943 by a railway worker near Russeifa, Jordan. After examination of the specimen by paleontologist Camille Arambourg, he described it as belonging to a new genus and species in 1959, ''Titanopteryx philadelphiae''. The genus, generic name means "titan wing", as the fossil was initially misidentified as a wing metacarpal (it would be later identified as a cervical vertebra, cervical (neck) vertebra), while the specific name refers to the ancient history, ancient name of Amman (the capital of Jordan), Philadelphia (Amman), ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phosphatodraco
''Phosphatodraco'' is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous of what is now Morocco. In 2000, a pterosaur specimen consisting of five Cervical vertebrae, cervical (neck) vertebrae was discovered in the Ouled Abdoun Phosphatic Basin. The specimen was made the holotype of the new genus and species ''Phosphatodraco mauritanicus'' in 2003; the genus name means "dragon from the phosphates", and the Specific name (zoology), specific name refers to the region of Mauretania. ''Phosphatodraco'' was the first Late Cretaceous pterosaur known from North Africa, and the second pterosaur genus described from Morocco. It is one of the only known azhdarchids preserving a relatively complete neck, and was one of the last known pterosaurs. Additional cervical vertebrae have since been assigned to the genus, and it has been suggested that fossils of the pterosaur ''Tethydraco'' represent wing elements of ''Phosphatodraco''. Due to the fragmentary nature of the holoty ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cryodrakon
''Cryodrakon'' is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the late Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Canada, around 76.7 and 74.3 million years ago. Starting in 1972, fossil remains of large azhdarchid pterosaurs have been reported from Alberta. Paleontologists assigned them to the genus ''Quetzalcoatlus'', given that it was the only known azhdarchid from North America back then and because they had limited information about its actual remains, so they simply could not deduce anything different. In 1992, a partial pterosaur skeleton was uncovered in the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta. It was partially described in 1995 by paleontologist Philip J. Currie and colleagues, with a subsequent and more complete description in 2005. But it was not until 2019 that it received a new genus and type species, ''Cryodrakon boreas'', named and described by paleontologists David Hone, Michael Habib, and François Therrien. The partial skeleton was made the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quetzalcoatlus Northropi
''Quetzalcoatlus'' () is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous in North America. The Type (biology), type specimen, recovered in 1971 from the Javelina Formation of Texas, United States, consists of several wing fragments and was species description, described as ''Quetzalcoatlus northropi'' in 1975 by Douglas A. Lawson, Douglas Lawson. The Generic name (biology), first part of the name refers to the Aztec serpent god of the sky, Quetzalcōātl, while the specific name, second part honors Jack Northrop, designer of a flying wing, tailless fixed-wing aircraft. The remains of a second species were found between 1972 and 1974, also by Lawson, around from the ''Q. northropi'' locality. In 2021, these remains were assigned to the name ''Quetzalcoatlus lawsoni'' by Brian Andres and (posthumously) Wann Langston Jr., Wann Langston Jr, as part of a series of publications on the genus. ''Quetzalcoatlus northropi'' has gained fame a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wellnhopterus
''Wellnhopterus'' is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous period in what us now Texas, United States. Its fossil remains were discovered in the Javelina Formation at Big Bend National Park, located in Brewster County, Texas. The fossils consist of a set of upper and lower jaws, several cervical vertebra, cervical (neck) vertebrae, and a fragmentary long bone. Originally referred to an indeterminate species of ''Quetzalcoatlus'', these remains would receive various interpretations ranging from a tapejarid to an azhdarchid identity. It was not until December 2021 that they were given a new genus and type species, ''Wellnhopterus brevirostris'', named and described by paleontologists Brian Andres and, posthumously, Wann Langston Jr.. Its generic name means "Peter Wellnhofer, Wellnhofer's wing", named in honor of paleontologist Peter Wellnhofer, while its specific name (zoology), specific name means "short-beaked", attributing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eurazhdarcho
''Eurazhdarcho'' is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Romania, about 69 million years ago. Starting in 2009, pterosaur fossil remains were unearthed in a layer of the Sebeș Formation in Lancrăm, southwestern Transylvania by paleontologist Mátyás Vremir. In 2013, he, along with paleontologists Alexander Kellner, Darren Naish, and Gareth Dyke would name the new genus and type species ''Eurazhdarcho langendorfensis''. Its generic name is a combination of Europe and the genus ''Azhdarcho'', while its specific name is in reference to its origin from Langendorf (the name of Lancrăm in the language of the German ethnic minority in Romania). The holotype specimen of ''Eurazhdarcho'' consists of a partial skeleton that includes cervical (neck) vertebrae, metacarpal, and phalanx fragments. The related and much larger azhdarchid ''Hatzegopteryx'' has also been found in the same location, indicating a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aerotitan
''Aerotitan'' is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Argentina. Its only remains, which consist of a partial snout, were found in the Allen Formation of the Neuquén Basin in northern Patagonia. This specimen was made the holotype of ''Aerotitan sudamericanus'' by paleontologist Fernando Novas and colleagues. The generic name combines the Greek word ἀήρ, meaning "air" and Titan, alluding to the pterosaur's large size. The specific name is a reference to its origin, South America. ''Aerotitan'' is the first pterosaur belonging the family Azhdarchidae that was found in South America. A wingspan of at least has been estimated for this pterosaur. Within Azhdarchidae, the genus '' Mistralazhdarcho'' from France seems to have been the closest relative of ''Aerotitan'', based on numerous phylogenetic analyses that have recovered them together in a clade. Discovery and naming The only specimen of '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mistralazhdarcho
''Mistralazhdarcho'' is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Campanian and Maastrichtian ages of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now France. A rich fossil site was discovered in 1992 by paleontologist Xavier Valentin at Velaux–La Bastide Neuve, in the south of France. Pterosaur fossil remains would be subsequently uncovered in the site. They were found in a layer of the Aix-en-Provence Basin at Velaux–La Bastide Neuve and consist of a partial skeleton that includes the skull. These remains would later be made the holotype specimen of the new genus and type species ''Mistralazhdarcho maggii'', named and described in 2018 by Valentin, along with paleontologists Romain Vullo, Géraldine Garcia, Pascal Godefroit, and Aude Cincotta. The generic name combines the mistral, a typical northern wind from the area, and the related genus ''Azhdarcho''. The specific name honors Jean-Pierre Maggi, the mayor of Velaux, who supported the La Bastide Neuve paleontologic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aralazhdarcho
''Aralazhdarcho'' is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Santonian to the early Campanian ages of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Kazakhstan. The type and only known species is ''Aralazhdarcho bostobensis'', named and described by Russian paleontologist Alexander Averianov. Its remains were found in the Bostobe Formation of Kazakhstan. The generic name combines the Aral Sea and the related genus ''Azhdarcho'', while the specific name refers to its origin from the Bostobe Formation. Due to its toothless anatomy and the geological age of its fossil remains, ''Aralazhdarcho'' was assigned to the family Azhdarchidae. Phylogenetic analyses would often recover it in a clade alongside ''Phosphatodraco'' from Morocco. The pterosaur genus '' Samrukia'' has been speculated to be a junior synonym of ''Aralazhdarcho''. Etymology ''Aralazhdarcho bostobensis'' as a genus and type species was named in 2007 by Russian paleontologist Alexander Averianov. However, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hatzegopteryx
''Hatzegopteryx'' (" Hațeg basin wing") is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur found in the late Maastrichtian deposits of the Densuş Ciula Formation, an outcropping in Transylvania, Romania. It is known only from the type species, ''Hatzegopteryx thambema'', named by paleontologists Eric Buffetaut, Dan Grigorescu, and Zoltan Csiki in 2002 based on parts of the skull and humerus. Additional specimens, including a neck vertebra, were later placed in the genus, representing a range of sizes. The largest of these remains indicate it was among the biggest pterosaurs, with an estimated wingspan of . Unusually among giant azhdarchids, ''Hatzegopteryx'' had a very wide skull bearing large muscular attachments, bones with a spongy internal texture instead of being hollow, and a short, robust, and heavily muscled neck measuring long, which was about half the length of other azhdarchids with comparable wingspans and was capable of withstanding strong bending forces. ''Hatzegopteryx'' in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nipponopterus
''Nipponopterus'' (meaning "Nippon wing") is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Turonian and Coniacian ages of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Japan. Its remains, which consist of a partial cervical vertebra, cervical (neck) vertebra, were found in the Mifune Group, located in the Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyūshū. It was made the holotype specimen of the genus and type species ''Nipponopterus mifunensis'', named and described by paleontologist Xuanyu Zhou and colleagues in 2025. ''Nipponopterus'' represents the first pterosaur to be named from Japan. Morphologically, ''Nipponopterus'' is similar to the pterosaur nicknamed "Bayanshiree Formation, Burkhant azhdarchid" from Mongolia. Both are estimated to have had a wingspan measuring around when fully grown. In its description, ''Nipponopterus'' was assigned to the clade Quetzalcoatlinae within the family Azhdarchidae, as the sister taxon of the already mentioned "Burkhant azhdarchid". Discovery and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
