A new ctenochasmatoid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning,China |
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| Institution: | 1. School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China;2. Dinosaur Trackers Research Group, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA;3. Regional Geological Survey Team, Sichuan Bureau of Geological Exploration and Development of Mineral Resources, Chengdu 610213, China;4. School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK;5. Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China;6. Saurierwelt Paläontologisches Museum, Neumarkt, Germany;7. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;8. Department of Earth Science Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongwon, Chungbuk 363-791, South Korea;9. Zigong Dinosaur Museum, Zigong, Sichuan, China;10. Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China |
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| Abstract: | A new ctenochasmatoid pterosaur, Gladocephaloideus jingangshanensis gen. et sp. nov. from the Yixian Formation of western Laioning Province is erected based on a complete skull and partial postcranial skeleton. It is characterized by following features: about 50 total teeth with sharp tips; small nasoantorbital opening, occupying approximately 13% of the skull length; ratio of prenarial length to skull length approximately 0.63. The diagnoses of the Ctenochasmatoidea and Gallodactylidae are amended based on the new taxon. Gladocephaloideus jingangshanensis is the first gallodactylid pterosaur found in Asia. Its discovery not only provides much more osteological information about the Gallodactylidae but also indicates that the ctenochasmatoid pterosaurs were highly diverse in the Early Cretaceous. The filamentous structures preserved near the dorsal and posterior margins of the posterior portion of the skull and around the neck indicate that it had an epidermal covering and may have been a warm-blooded animal. |
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