Remains of a Late Cretaceous pterosaur from the Molecap Greensand of Western Australia

2010/06/09 by Benjamin P. Kear, Geoff Deacon, Mikael Siverson · 2 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Ichthyology and Marine Biology #Cretaceous #Cenomanian #Paleontology #Geology #Southern Hemisphere #Range (aeronautics)

paper · doi:10.1080/03115511003661651

openalex publication_date 2010/06/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Pterosaur remains are very rare in Australasia and especially in Upper Cretaceous strata. Thus, the discovery of a jaw fragment from the Cenomanian–Coniacian Molecap Greensand near Gingin in Western Australia represents an important new stratigraphical occurrence for the region. Although the teeth are not preserved, the presence of labio-lingually compressed alveoli that are anterolaterally oriented, variable in shape/size (inferring heterodonty) and very widely spaced is reminiscent of ornithocheirids—a geographically cosmopolitan clade of predominantly Early Cretaceous pterodactyloids. If correct, this identification could extend the known range of Ornithocheiridae through to the Late Cretaceous in the Southern Hemisphere.

Citations

• Vertebrate palaeontology of Australasia
• An unusual long-tailed pterosaur with elongated neck from western Liaoning of China
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• Pterosaur phylogeny and comments on the evolutionary history of the group
• A new azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China and its implications for pterosaur phylogeny and evolution
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• New isolated pterodactyloid bones from the Albian Toolebuc Formation (western Queensland, Australia) with comments on the Australian pterosaur fauna
• On the phylogeny and evolutionary history of pterosaurs
• Notice of a new suborder of Pterosauria
• The Osteology and Functional Morphology of the Late Cretaceous Pterosaur Pteranodon Part I. General Description of Osteology

Cited by

• Isolated teeth of Anhangueria (Pterosauria: Pterodactyloidea) from the Lower Cretaceous of Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia
• East Gondwana [wikipedia]

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