Redescription of the first pterosaur remains from Japan: the largest flying reptile from Asia

Date
2016Author
Kellner, Alexander W. A.
Costa, Fabiana R. [UNIFESP]
Wang, Xiaolin
Cheng, Xin
Type
ArtigoISSN
0891-2963Is part of
Historical BiologyDOI
10.1080/08912963.2015.1028929Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Pterosaur remains are found in numerous deposits of the world, but most are isolated and fragmentary elements. This is the case of Japan where a small number of specimens from those volant reptiles have been reported. Here, we redescribe the first pterosaur remains from Japan (NSM PV15005) that were found in outcrops of the Upper Cretaceous Yezo Group (Santonian-lower Campanian) in the Mikasa area of Hokkaido. Further preparation of this material revealed several pterosaur bones, including the distal end of a left femur, a non-ungual phalanx and a proximal caudal vertebra. Based on the double-condyle articulation of the caudal element and the main features of the femur, this specimen is referred to a pteranodontid-like pterosaur. Its wingspan is estimated to be around 6.8m, making it the largest pterosaur recorded not only from Japan, but also from Asia so far, indicating that large flying reptiles were widespread worldwide during the Upper Cretaceous.
Citation
Historical Biology. Abingdon, v. 28, n. 43497, p. 304-309, 2016.Sponsorship
Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Rio de JaneiroConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico
National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars
National Basic Research Program of China
Hundred Talents
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- ICAQF - Artigos [1140]