A new ornithocheirid, Barbosania gracilirostris gen. et sp. nov. (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Santana Formation (Cretaceous) of NE Brazil

2011/04/19 by Ross A. Elgin, Eberhard Frey · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Ichthyology and Marine Biology #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Cretaceous #Paleontology #Crest #Genus #Biology #Fibrous joint #Anatomy #Warrant #Geology #Zoology

paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s13358-011-0017-4

openalex publication_date 2011/04/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

An almost complete, ornithocheirid pterosaur from the Romulado Member of the Santana Formation, NE Brazil is described. The specimen lacks a rostral and dentary median sagittal crest and is sufficiently distinct from other crestless taxa to warrant the erection of a new genus and species, Barbosania gracilirostris gen. et sp. nov. It confirms the absence of a crest as a genuine condition rather than a consequence of ontogenetic immaturity and indicates a shift from the previously observed pattern of suture closure in pterodactyloid pterosaurs, where partial fusion of the extensor tendon process has occurred at a relatively small size. Several specimens showing morphology similar to Brasileodactylus may instead be more closely allied to B. gracilirostris .

Citations

• Pterosaur phylogeny and comments on the evolutionary history of the group
• New crested specimens of the Late Cretaceous pterosaurNyctosaurus
• A new azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China and its implications for pterosaur phylogeny and evolution
• Discovery of a rare arboreal forest-dwelling flying reptile (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from China
• Sexual dimorphism ofPteranodonand other pterosaurs, with comments on cranial crests
• On the phylogeny and evolutionary history of pterosaurs
• Positive Allometry and the Prehistory of Sexual Selection

Cited by

• Thalassodromeus [wikipedia]

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