A new azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China and its implications for pterosaur phylogeny and evolution (original) (raw)

Abstract

Toothless pterosaurs played a key role in broadening the taxonomic, morphological and ecological diversity of Cretaceous pterosaurs. Here we report a complete, articulated skeleton of a 1.4-m-wingspan pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province, China which is identified as a new genus and species, Shenzhoupterus chaoyangensis gen. et sp. nov. The new taxon is edentulous, with a relatively large skull and a remarkably large, tall nasoantorbital fenestra that extends well above the main part of the braincase. Phylogenetic analysis shows that Shenzhoupterus gen. nov. belongs in a distinct clade of azhdarchoid pterosaurs, formally recognised here as a new family, Chaoyangopteridae, that also includes Chaoyangopterus, Jidapterus and Eoazhdarcho from the Jiufotang Formation and Eopteranodon from the Yixian Formation. These new data clarify recent confusion surrounding the systematics of these Lower Cretaceous taxa and provide new insights into the evolutionary history of pterosaurs.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the National Key Basic Research and Development Program (Grant 2006CB701405) and the China Geological Survey (Grant 200413000024). David Unwin thanks Jason Dunlop, the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin and the University of Leicester for logistical support. We are very grateful to David Martill, Darren Naish, Mark Witton and three referees who provided many helpful comments that greatly improved the quality of this manuscript. We also thank Brian Andres, Chris Bennett, David Martill, Darren Naish, Mark Witton and Alex Kellner for useful discussions regarding pterosaur phylogeny and taxonomy and Mark Witton for generously providing access to his unpublished work.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China
   Junchang Lü
2. Department of Museum Studies, University of Leicester, 105 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1, UK
   David M. Unwin
3. Henan Geological Museum, Zhengzhou, 450016, Henan Province, China
   Li Xu & Xingliao Zhang

Authors

1. Junchang Lü
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2. David M. Unwin
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3. Li Xu
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4. Xingliao Zhang
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Correspondence toJunchang Lü.

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Lü, J., Unwin, D.M., Xu, L. et al. A new azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China and its implications for pterosaur phylogeny and evolution.Naturwissenschaften 95, 891–897 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-008-0397-5

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• Received: 12 February 2008
• Revised: 24 April 2008
• Accepted: 29 April 2008
• Published: 29 May 2008
• Issue Date: September 2008
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-008-0397-5

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