EAVP Abstract Book

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

EAVP Abstract Book A POSSIBLE ANHANGUERAN PTEROSAUR MANDIBLE FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS OF GERMANY P. Abel1, J. J. Hornung2, B. P. Kear3, S. Sachs4* 1Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, University of Tübigen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany 2Landesmuseum Hannover, 30169 Hannover, Germany 3Museum of Evolution, Uppsale University, 753 26 Uppsala, Sweden 4Abteilung Geowissenschaften, Naturkundemuseum Bielefeld, 33602 Bielefeld, Germany *presenting author, [email protected] Key words: Pterosauria, Anhangueria, Cretaceous, Valanginian Presentation type: poster Cretaceous pterosaur fossils are rare in Germany. The specimens documented to date are limited to only a few fragmentary body fossils and footprint traces from different Lower Cretaceous strata. Here we add to this sparse, but palaeobiogeographically significant record with the description of an incomplete mandible from marine sediments of the lower Valanginian Stadthagen Formation of Sachsenhagen in northern Germany. The remains are represented by the posterior section of a gracile symphyseal rostrum with a delicate midline ridge along its ventral edge. A pronounced lateral longitudinal groove also extends below the alveolar rim. Broken tooth crowns are preserved in the mesiodistally elongate alveoli, which are widely spaced (increasingly so posteriorly) and labially inclined without raised rims. Although precise generic affinities are uncertain, the shape and arrangement of the alveoli are reminiscent of Camposipterus nasutus Seeley 1869, from the Albian of England (which was defined on the basis of an incomplete cranial rostrum), as well as mandibles of the putative anhangueran taxon Cearadactylus atrox Leonardi & Borgomanero 1985, together with the unequivocal anhanguerids Anhanguera piscator Kellner & Tomida 2000, Tropeognathus mesembrinus Wellnhofer 1987, and Ludodactylus sibbicki Frey et al. 2003, (all of which additionally share the presence of a symphyseal ridge). We therefore conclude that the Stadthagen Formation pterosaur potentially constitutes one of the stratigraphically earliest occurrences of Anhangueria, and is at present the only known exemplar of this recovered from Germany. 7 Program and abstracts XVII Conference of the EAVP – Brussels, Belgium 2 – 6 July 2019 .
Recommended publications
  • Is Our Understanding of Santana Group Pterosaur Diversity Biased by Poor Biological and Stratigraphic Control?
    Anhanguera taxonomy revisited: is our understanding of Santana Group pterosaur diversity biased by poor biological and stratigraphic control? Felipe L. Pinheiro1 and Taissa Rodrigues2 1 Laboratório de Paleobiologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel, RS, Brazil 2 Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil ABSTRACT Background. Anhanguerids comprise an important clade of pterosaurs, mostly known from dozens of three-dimensionally preserved specimens recovered from the Lower Cretaceous Romualdo Formation (northeastern Brazil). They are remarkably diverse in this sedimentary unit, with eight named species, six of them belonging to the genus Anhanguera. However, such diversity is likely overestimated, as these species have been historically diagnosed based on subtle differences, mainly based on the shape and position of the cranial crest. In spite of that, recently discovered pterosaur taxa represented by large numbers of individuals, including juveniles and adults, as well as presumed males and females, have crests of sizes and shapes that are either ontogenetically variable or sexually dimorphic. Methods. We describe in detail the skull of one of the most complete specimens referred to Anhanguera, AMNH 22555, and use it as a case study to review the diversity of anhanguerids from the Romualdo Formation. In order to accomplish that, a geometric morphometric analysis was performed to assess size-dependent characters with respect to the premaxillary crest in the 12 most complete skulls bearing crests that are referred in, or related to, this clade, almost all of them analyzed first hand. Results. Geometric morphometric regression of shape on centroid size was highly Submitted 4 January 2017 statistically significant (p D 0:0091) and showed that allometry accounts for 25.7% Accepted 8 April 2017 Published 4 May 2017 of total shape variation between skulls of different centroid sizes.
    [Show full text]
  • Pterosaur Distribution in Time and Space: an Atlas 61
    Zitteliana An International Journal of Palaeontology and Geobiology Series B/Reihe B Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Pa lä on to lo gie und Geologie B28 DAVID W. E. HONE & ERIC BUFFETAUT (Eds) Flugsaurier: pterosaur papers in honour of Peter Wellnhofer CONTENTS/INHALT Dedication 3 PETER WELLNHOFER A short history of pterosaur research 7 KEVIN PADIAN Were pterosaur ancestors bipedal or quadrupedal?: Morphometric, functional, and phylogenetic considerations 21 DAVID W. E. HONE & MICHAEL J. BENTON Contrasting supertree and total-evidence methods: the origin of the pterosaurs 35 PAUL M. BARRETT, RICHARD J. BUTLER, NICHOLAS P. EDWARDS & ANDREW R. MILNER Pterosaur distribution in time and space: an atlas 61 LORNA STEEL The palaeohistology of pterosaur bone: an overview 109 S. CHRISTOPHER BENNETT Morphological evolution of the wing of pterosaurs: myology and function 127 MARK P. WITTON A new approach to determining pterosaur body mass and its implications for pterosaur fl ight 143 MICHAEL B. HABIB Comparative evidence for quadrupedal launch in pterosaurs 159 ROSS A. ELGIN, CARLOS A. GRAU, COLIN PALMER, DAVID W. E. HONE, DOUGLAS GREENWELL & MICHAEL J. BENTON Aerodynamic characters of the cranial crest in Pteranodon 167 DAVID M. MARTILL & MARK P. WITTON Catastrophic failure in a pterosaur skull from the Cretaceous Santana Formation of Brazil 175 MARTIN LOCKLEY, JERALD D. HARRIS & LAURA MITCHELL A global overview of pterosaur ichnology: tracksite distribution in space and time 185 DAVID M. UNWIN & D. CHARLES DEEMING Pterosaur eggshell structure and its implications for pterosaur reproductive biology 199 DAVID M. MARTILL, MARK P. WITTON & ANDREW GALE Possible azhdarchoid pterosaur remains from the Coniacian (Late Cretaceous) of England 209 TAISSA RODRIGUES & ALEXANDER W.
    [Show full text]
  • Review of the Pterodactyloid Pterosaur Coloborhynchus 219
    Zitteliana An International Journal of Palaeontology and Geobiology Series B/Reihe B Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Pa lä on to lo gie und Geologie B28 DAVID W. E. HONE & ERIC BUFFETAUT (Eds) Flugsaurier: pterosaur papers in honour of Peter Wellnhofer CONTENTS/INHALT Dedication 3 PETER WELLNHOFER A short history of pterosaur research 7 KEVIN PADIAN Were pterosaur ancestors bipedal or quadrupedal?: Morphometric, functional, and phylogenetic considerations 21 DAVID W. E. HONE & MICHAEL J. BENTON Contrasting supertree and total-evidence methods: the origin of the pterosaurs 35 PAUL M. BARRETT, RICHARD J. BUTLER, NICHOLAS P. EDWARDS & ANDREW R. MILNER Pterosaur distribution in time and space: an atlas 61 LORNA STEEL The palaeohistology of pterosaur bone: an overview 109 S. CHRISTOPHER BENNETT Morphological evolution of the wing of pterosaurs: myology and function 127 MARK P. WITTON A new approach to determining pterosaur body mass and its implications for pterosaur fl ight 143 MICHAEL B. HABIB Comparative evidence for quadrupedal launch in pterosaurs 159 ROSS A. ELGIN, CARLOS A. GRAU, COLIN PALMER, DAVID W. E. HONE, DOUGLAS GREENWELL & MICHAEL J. BENTON Aerodynamic characters of the cranial crest in Pteranodon 167 DAVID M. MARTILL & MARK P. WITTON Catastrophic failure in a pterosaur skull from the Cretaceous Santana Formation of Brazil 175 MARTIN LOCKLEY, JERALD D. HARRIS & LAURA MITCHELL A global overview of pterosaur ichnology: tracksite distribution in space and time 185 DAVID M. UNWIN & D. CHARLES DEEMING Pterosaur eggshell structure and its implications for pterosaur reproductive biology 199 DAVID M. MARTILL, MARK P. WITTON & ANDREW GALE Possible azhdarchoid pterosaur remains from the Coniacian (Late Cretaceous) of England 209 TAISSA RODRIGUES & ALEXANDER W.
    [Show full text]
  • Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul Instituto De Geociências Programa De Pós-Graduação Em Geociências Contribuição
    UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL INSTITUTO DE GEOCIÊNCIAS PROGRAMA DE PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM GEOCIÊNCIAS CONTRIBUIÇÃO AO CONHECIMENTO DOS PTEROSSAUROS DO GRUPO SANTANA (CRETÁCEO INFERIOR) DA BACIA DO ARARIPE, NORDESTE DO BRASIL FELIPE LIMA PINHEIRO ORIENTADOR – Prof. Dr. Cesar Leandro Schultz Porto Alegre - 2014 UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL INSTITUTO DE GEOCIÊNCIAS PROGRAMA DE PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM GEOCIÊNCIAS CONTRIBUIÇÃO AO CONHECIMENTO DOS PTEROSSAUROS DO GRUPO SANTANA (CRETÁCEO INFERIOR) DA BACIA DO ARARIPE, NORDESTE DO BRASIL FELIPE LIMA PINHEIRO ORIENTADOR – Prof. Dr. Cesar Leandro Schultz BANCA EXAMINADORA Prof. Dr. Marco Brandalise de Andrade – Faculdade de Biociências, PUC, RS Profa. Dra. Marina Bento Soares – Departamento de Paleontologia e Estratigrafia, UFRGS Profa. Dra. Taissa Rodrigues – Departamento de Biologia, UFES, ES Tese de Doutorado apresentada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências como requisito parcial para a obtenção do título de Doutor em Ciências. Porto Alegre – 2014 “Ao ser destampado pelo gigante, o cofre deixou escapar um hálito glacial. Dentro havia apenas um enorme bloco transparente, com infinitas agulhas internas nas quais se despedaçava em estrelas de cores a claridade do crepúsculo. Desconcertado, sabendo que os meninos esperavam uma explicação imediata, José Arcadio Buendía atreveu-se a murmurar: – É o maior diamante do mundo.” Gabriel García Marquez AGRADECIMENTOS Um trabalho como esse não é feito apenas a duas mãos. Durante o percurso de meu mestrado e doutorado, tive o privilégio de contar com o apoio (por vezes, praticamente incondicional) de diversas pessoas. Em primeiro lugar, pelo apoio irrestrito em todos os momentos, agradeço a minha família, em especial a meus pais, Sandra e Valmiro e a meus irmãos, Fernando e Sacha.
    [Show full text]
  • The First Pterosaur Basihyal, Shedding Light on the Evolution and Function of Pterosaur Hyoid Apparatuses
    The first pterosaur basihyal, shedding light on the evolution and function of pterosaur hyoid apparatuses Shunxing Jiang1,2, Zhiheng Li1,2, Xin Cheng3,4 and Xiaolin Wang1,2,5 1 Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China 2 CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Beijing, China 3 College of Earth Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China 4 Laboratório de Paleontologia, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, Ceará, Brazil 5 College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of CAS, Beijing, China ABSTRACT The pterosaur is the first known vertebrate clade to achieve powered flight. Its hyoid apparatus shows a simplification similar to that of birds, although samples of the apparatus are rare, limiting the ability to make an accurate determination. In this study we reveal a new pterosaur specimen, including the first definite basihyal. Through the comparison of pterosaur hyoids, a trend has been discovered for the shortened hyoid relative to the length of the skull, indicating a diminished role of lingual retraction during the evolution of the pterosaur. The new material, possibly from a gallodactylid Gladocephaloideus, represents one of the least effective lingual retractions in all pterosaurs. Based on the structure of an elongated ceratobranchial and retroarticular process on mandibles, the function of the Y-shaped istiodactylid tongue bone is similar to those of scavenger crows rather than chameleons, which is consistent with the interpretation of the scavenging behavior of this taxon. More fossil samples are needed for further study on the function of other pterosaur hyoids.
    [Show full text]
  • 7.2.1. Introduction
    Veldmeijer Cretaceous, toothed pterosaurs from Brazil. A reappraisal 8. Final remarks 8.1. Ornithocheiridae versus Anhangueridae The situation on family level is complex (see Veldmeijer et al., submitted), but the acceptance of the crestless, laterally compressed jaws that strongly decrease in width in anterior direction resulting in a sharp pointed beak (figure 8.1) of O. compressirostris as the type species for Ornithocheiridae forces to exclude Brasileodactylus from Ornithocheiridae, as proposed by Unwin (2001) because the morphology contrast distinctly from the expanded and dorsoventrally compressed jaws of Brasileodactylus and indeed from all other known taxa from Brazil (Coloborhynchus, Anhanguera, Criorhynchus, Cearadactylus, Ludodactylus). The acceptance of the mentioned type species contradicts with Unwin’s vision and diagnosis through which he classified Brasileodactylus to Ornithocheiridae. It is interesting to note that Unwin assigned the specimen, in the present work referred to as Cr. simus, as type species of Ornithocheiridae. The diagnosis is, according to Unwin (2001: 204)54: “The first three teeth are relatively large, forming a terminal rosette, and show a marked increase in size posteriorly. The fourth tooth pair is much reduced in size and smaller than the first pair of teeth. Proceeding posteriorly, there is a steady decrease in tooth size up to, typically, the ninth pair, which are of similar basal dimensions to the largest teeth in the terminal rosette. Further posteriorly, tooth size decline again. Consequently, in dorsal view, the rostrum has an expanded anterior tip […]. The expansion of the anterior end of the rostrum is most marked in large species and adult individuals, but may be practically absent in small species and juveniles.” Without going into detail too much, as a detailed discussion of his vision is clearly beyond the scope of this work, few remarks need to be made in light of the systematic palaeontology used here.
    [Show full text]
  • (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with the Description of Two New Species Anais Da Academia Brasileira De Ciências, Vol
    Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ISSN: 0001-3765 [email protected] Academia Brasileira de Ciências Brasil Kellner, Alexander W.A. Comments on the Pteranodontidae (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with the description of two new species Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, vol. 82, núm. 4, 2010, pp. 1063-1084 Academia Brasileira de Ciências Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=32717686024 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative “main” — 2010/11/10 — 11:46 — page 1063 — #1 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2010) 82(4): 1063-1084 (Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences) ISSN 0001-3765 www.scielo.br/aabc Comments on the Pteranodontidae (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with the description of two new species ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER Setor de Paleovertebrados, Museu Nacional/UFRJ Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil Manuscript received on September 15, 2010; accepted for publication on October 25, 2010 ABSTRACT Considered one of the best known flying reptiles, Pteranodon has been subject to several reviews in the last century. Found exclusively in the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formation and Pierre Shale Group 11 species have been attributed to this genus (excluding the ones presently regarded as representing Nyctosaurus). While reviewers agree that this number is inflated, there is disagreement on how many species can be identified. The last review recognized onlytwo species (Pteranodon longiceps and Pteranodon sternbergi) both being sexually dimorphic.
    [Show full text]
  • A Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Review of the Anhanguerid Pterosaur Group Coloborhynchinae and the New Clade Tropeognathinae
    A taxonomic and phylogenetic review of the anhanguerid pterosaur group Coloborhynchinae and the new clade Tropeognathinae BORJA HOLGADO and RODRIGO V. PÊGAS Holgado, B. And Pêgas, R.V. 2020. A taxonomic and phylogenetic review of the anhanguerid pterosaur group Colo­ borhynchinae and the new clade Tropeognathinae. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 65 (4): 743–761. Anhanguerids are a particular group of pterodactyloid pterosaurs, characterized mainly by their rostral sagittal crests, well laterally expanded jaw tips and enlarged anterior teeth. Due to the fragmentary nature of most known specimens, including holotypes, the taxonomy of the group has proved particularly difficult and controversial. Coloborhynchinae is a recently proposed clade within the Anhangueridae, and was defined as the most inclusive clade containing Coloborhynchus clavirostris but not Anhanguera or Ludodactylus. Coloborhynchinae was originally thought to include Coloborhynchus, Uktenadactylus, and Siroccopteryx. Here we present a reassessment of the taxonomy and phylogeny of all proposed members of the Coloborhynchinae and Coloborhynchus complex, with new anatomical comparisons and a novel phylo­ genetic analysis. Several features allow us to establish that coloborhynchines were much more diverse than previously thought, englobing four genera and seven species: Aerodraco sedgwickii gen. et comb. nov., Coloborhynchus claviros- tris, Nicorhynchus capito gen. et comb. nov., Nicorhynchus fluviferox gen. et comb. nov., Uktenadactylus rodriguesae sp. nov., and Uktenadactylus wadleighi. Nicorhynchus and Uktenadactylus are considered sister taxa, being distinct on the basis of several rostral characters. Although with a homoplastic flat rostrum surface, Siroccopteryx was recovered out of the Coloborhynchinae, as sister taxon of Tropeognathus, due to similarities on the palatal ridge (which is broad and deep, and starting at the same level) and the relatively stout teeth compared to other anhanguerids.
    [Show full text]
  • A Nearly Complete Ornithocheirid Pterosaur from the Aptian (Early Cretaceous) Crato Formation of NE Brazil
    A nearly complete ornithocheirid pterosaur from the Aptian (Early Cretaceous) Crato Formation of NE Brazil ROSS A. ELGIN and EBERHARD FREY Elgin, R.A. and Frey, E. 2012. A nearly complete ornithocheirid pterosaur from the Aptian (Early Cretaceous) Crato Formation of NE Brazil. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 57 (1): 101–110. A partial ornithocheirid, representing a rare example of a pterosaurian body fossil from the Nova Olinda Member of the Crato Formation, NE Brazil, is described from the collections of the State Museum of Natural History, Karlsruhe. While similar in preservation and taphonomy to Arthurdactylus conandoylei, it is distinguished by slight differences in biomet− ric ratios, but the absence of a skull prevents closer identification. Mostly complete body fossils belonging to ornitho− cheiroid pterosaurs appear to be relatively more abundant in the younger Romualdo Member of the Santana Formation, making the described specimen one of only two well documented ornithocheiroids known from the Nova Olinda Lagerstätte. Key words: Ornithocheiroidea, pterosaur, taphonomy, Aptian, Cretaceous, Crato Formation, Brazil. Ross A. Elgin [[email protected]] and Eberhard Frey [[email protected]], Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe (SMNK), Abteilung Geologie, Erbprinzenstraße 13, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany. Received 4 August 2010, accepted 17 March 2011, available online 31 March 2011. Introduction A new specimen from the Nova Olinda Member in the collections of the State Museum of Natural History, Karls− The Araripe Basin of NE Brazil contains two Early Creta− ruhe (SMNK PAL 3854), is described here, representing the ceous Lagerstätten that are world renowned for their excep− rare occurrence of a largely complete ornithocheirid ptero− tional preservation of insects and vertebrate fossils (Unwin saur from this locality.
    [Show full text]
  • Pterosaurs Or Flying Reptiles Were the First Vertebrates to Evolve Flight
    Veldmeijer, Witton & Nieuwland André J. Veldmeijer PTEROSAURS Mark Witton & Ilja Nieuwland Pterosaurs or flying reptiles were the first vertebrates to evolve flight. These distant relatives of modern reptiles and dinosaurs lived from the Late Triassic (over 200 million years ago) to the end of the Cretaceous (about 65 million years ago) a span of some 135 million years. When they became extinct, no relatives survived them and as a result these prehistoric animals cannot readily be compared to our modern-day fauna. So what do we know about these highly succsessful animals? The present summary answers this and many more questions based on the most recent results of modern scientific research. After a short introduction into palaeontology as a science, and the history of pterosaur study, it explains what pterosaurs were, when and where they lived, and what they looked like. Topics such as disease, injury and reproduction are also discussed. Separated from this text are ‘Mark explains’ boxes. Each of these explanations puts one specific species in the spotlight and focuses on its lifestyle. They show the diversity of pterosaurs, from small insectivorous animals with a wingspan of nearly 40 centimetres to the biggest flying animals ever to take to the air, with wingspans of over 10 metres and a way of life comparable to modern-day storks. The text is illustrated with many full-colour photographs and beautiful PTEROSAURS palaeo-art prepared by experts in the field. Dr. André J. Veldmeijer is an archaeologist and palaeontologist (PhD Utrecht University, The Netherlands). He is specialised in the big, toothed pterosaurs of the Cretaceous.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is “Pricesaurus Megalodon”? REASSESSMENT of an Enigmatic Pterosaur
    Rev. bras. paleontol. 15(3):264-272, Setembro/Dezembro 2012 © 2012 by the Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia doi:10.4072/rbp.2012.3.03 What Is “PRICESAURUS MEGALODON”? REAssEssMENT oF AN ENIgmatic PTERosAuR FELIPE LIMA PINhEIRo, CEsAR LEANDRo sChuLTZ Departamento de Paleontologia e Estratigrafia, Igeo, uFRgs, Cx.P. 15001, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Rs, Brasil. f l_ [email protected], [email protected] RAFAEL gIoIA MARTINs NETo† Departamento de geologia, Campus Cariri, uFC, 63105-040, Juazeiro do Norte, CE, Brasil. JosÉ ARTuR FERREIRA goMEs DE ANDRADE Centro de Pesquisas Paleontológicas da Chapada do Araripe, DNPM, Praça da sé, 105, 63100-440, Crato, CE, Brasil. [email protected] ABsTRACT – The specimens attributed to “Pricesaurus megalodon” are re-examined in order to determine whether they constitute a distinct taxon of pterodactyloid pterosaur. After careful preparation and study, the material (rostral and middle parts of two probably distinct skulls) revealed affinities with the Anhangueridae, especially with the genusA nhanguera Campos & Kellner. The taxon “Pricesaurus megalodon” is considered here a nomen nudum for lacking distinctive diagnostic features and for being published in noncompliance with the standards of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Key words: pterosaur, Anhangueridae, “Pricesaurus megalodon”, Romualdo Formation, Araripe Basin. REsuMo – os espécimes atribuídos a “Pricesaurus megalodon” são reavaliados com o objetivo de se determinar se estes constituem um táxon distinto de pterossauro pterodactiloide. Após cuidadosa preparação e estudo, o material (um fragmento rostral e a parte média de, provavelmente, dois crânios distintos) revelou afinidades com Anhangueridae, em especial com o gênero Anhanguera Campos & Kellner. o táxon “Pricesaurus megalodon” é, aqui, considerado como nomen nudum por carecer de características diagnósticas distintas e por ter sido publicado em desacordo com as recomendações do Código Internacional de Nomenclatura Zoológica.
    [Show full text]
  • Pterosaurs of the Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) of the Isle of Wight, Southern England: a Review with New Data
    ISSN (print): 1698-6180. ISSN (online): 1886-7995 www.ucm.es/info/estratig/journal.htm Journal of Iberian Geology 36 (2) 2010: 225-242 doi:10.5209/rev_JIGE.2010.v36.n2.9 Pterosaurs of the Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) of the Isle of Wight, southern England: a review with new data Pterosaurios de la Formación Wessex (Cretácico inferior, Barremiense) de la Isla de Wight, sur de Inglaterra: revisión y nuevos hallazgos S. C. Sweetman, D. M. Martill Palaeobiology Research Group, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3QL, United Kingdom [email protected], [email protected] Received: 20/11/09 / Accepted: 30/06/10 Abstract Micropalaeontological processing of vertebrate-bearing horizons within the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, southern England, reveals a rare, but diverse assemblage of pterosaurs. Besides the previously known euorni- thocheiran Caulkicephalus, the new material demonstrates the presence of three species of istiodactylid, a ctenochasmatid, and a distinct form that cannot easily be placed in a higher taxon. This elevated diversity is in keeping with pterosaur diversity from other Early Cretaceous localities, having some similarities with assemblages from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil, China and Spain. The apparent absence of toothless forms in the Wessex Formation may represent a preservation bias or collecting artefact. Keywords: Pterosauria, Early Cretaceous, Wessex Formation, England, Palaeobiodiversity Resumen El análisis micropaleontológico de los niveles estratigráficos ricos en vertebrados del Barremiense (Cretácico Inferior) de la Formación Wessex en la Isla de Wight al sur de Inglaterra, demuestra la presencia de una escasa aunque diversa asociación de pte- rosaurios.
    [Show full text]