Topotype specimens probably attributable to the giant azhdarchid pterosaur Arambourgiania philadelphiae (Arambourg 1959)

2017/02/22 by David M. Martill, Markus Moser · 10 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Bat Biology and Ecology Studies #Biology #Zoology

paper · doi:10.1144/sp455.6

published in Geological Society London Special Publications 455(1), 159-169 (Geological Society of London)

openalex publication_date 2017/02/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01

Abstract

Abstract Six specimens accessioned to the Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology and Geology in Munich, Germany, in 1966 are identified as coming from a gigantic pterodactyloid pterosaur. The previously undescribed material was obtained in 1955 by Jean Otto Haas and compares favourably in size with the type specimen of the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) azhdarchid pterosaur Arambourgiania philadelphiae (Arambourg 1959) from the same locality/region. The material represents fragments of two cervical vertebrae, a neural arch, a left femur, a ?radius, and a metacarpal IV and bones of problematic identity, and does not duplicate the type material of Arambourgiania . The timing of its collection and its locality of Ruseifa, Jordan suggest it might pertain to the same individual as the holotype.

Citations

• A new giant pterosaur with a robust skull from the latest Cretaceous of Romania
• Pterosaur from the Latest Cretaceous of West Texas: Discovery of the Largest Flying Creature
• On the Size and Flight Diversity of Giant Pterosaurs, the Use of Birds as Pterosaur Analogues and Comments on Pterosaur Flightlessness
• A new azhdarchid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous phosphates of Morocco
• Comments on the Pteranodontidae (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with the description of two new species

Cited by

• Phosphatodraco [wikipedia]