Researchers in Australia have found the remains of a previously unknown type of pterosaur (winged reptile and not a dinosaur) in North West Queensland which is part of that country's "outback." The pterosaur lived back during the Early Cretaceous some 105 mya when much of Australia's interior was covered by the Eromanga Sea.
The pterosaur was named Thapunngaka shawi, with the genus name consisting of two words from the local Wanamara language meaning "spear" and "mouth" with the species name honoring its discoverer, Len Shaw, an amateur fossil hunter who uncovered the remains some 40 years ago. So Thapunngaka shawi translates as "Shaw’s spear-mouth"
Anyone seeing the fossil would understand why it was called this considering it's spear-like mouth which the lead researcher, Tim Richards from the University of Queensland's School of Biological Sciences, as being "savage" and a "fearsome beast."
While only the well-preserved rostral portion of a crested mandible was recovered it was sufficient for the team to extrapolate more of Thapunngaka's features, including that it is the largest known Australian pterosaur with a wingspan of roughly 7 meters or 23' (between 5.83 to 9.47 meters or 19 to 31').
The head was probably a little over a meter long and the jaw held approximately 40 needle-like teeth indicating that it was a piscivore (fish eater).
The full paper, A new species of crested pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea, Anhangueridae) from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) of Richmond, North West Queensland, Australia can be read by clicking on the hyperlink, while the abstract can be seen below
And of course some images.
The pterosaur was named Thapunngaka shawi, with the genus name consisting of two words from the local Wanamara language meaning "spear" and "mouth" with the species name honoring its discoverer, Len Shaw, an amateur fossil hunter who uncovered the remains some 40 years ago. So Thapunngaka shawi translates as "Shaw’s spear-mouth"
Anyone seeing the fossil would understand why it was called this considering it's spear-like mouth which the lead researcher, Tim Richards from the University of Queensland's School of Biological Sciences, as being "savage" and a "fearsome beast."
While only the well-preserved rostral portion of a crested mandible was recovered it was sufficient for the team to extrapolate more of Thapunngaka's features, including that it is the largest known Australian pterosaur with a wingspan of roughly 7 meters or 23' (between 5.83 to 9.47 meters or 19 to 31').
The head was probably a little over a meter long and the jaw held approximately 40 needle-like teeth indicating that it was a piscivore (fish eater).
The full paper, A new species of crested pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea, Anhangueridae) from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) of Richmond, North West Queensland, Australia can be read by clicking on the hyperlink, while the abstract can be seen below
ABSTRACT
Pterosaur fossils from Australia are exceptionally rare. Since the discovery of the continent’s first pterosaur some 40 years ago, fewer than 20 specimens have been described. The Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) Toolebuc Formation of North West Queensland is the most productive horizon for Australian pterosaurs. Herein, we describe a new species of pterosaur, Thapunngaka shawi gen. et sp. nov., from the Toolebuc Formation, near Richmond, North West Queensland. The specimen (KKF494) comprises the rostral portion of a crested mandible and represents the largest pterosaur yet described from Australia. The new species presents features that indicate an affinity with Anhangueridae, which is consistent with their reported cosmopolitan distribution during this period. Thapunngaka shawi can be distinguished from other anhanguerids through the possession of a mandible with a smooth dorsal surface medially and uniquely sized alveoli that are positioned laterally along the jaw. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a close relationship among all Australian anhanguerids and points to an endemic Australian radiation within Anhangueridae. Thapunngaka shawi has the largest mandibular crest of any anhanguerian worldwide, and provides further evidence for the existence of an increasingly diverse range of large crested pterosaurs in the Australian part of eastern Gondwana during the Cretaceous.
Pterosaur fossils from Australia are exceptionally rare. Since the discovery of the continent’s first pterosaur some 40 years ago, fewer than 20 specimens have been described. The Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) Toolebuc Formation of North West Queensland is the most productive horizon for Australian pterosaurs. Herein, we describe a new species of pterosaur, Thapunngaka shawi gen. et sp. nov., from the Toolebuc Formation, near Richmond, North West Queensland. The specimen (KKF494) comprises the rostral portion of a crested mandible and represents the largest pterosaur yet described from Australia. The new species presents features that indicate an affinity with Anhangueridae, which is consistent with their reported cosmopolitan distribution during this period. Thapunngaka shawi can be distinguished from other anhanguerids through the possession of a mandible with a smooth dorsal surface medially and uniquely sized alveoli that are positioned laterally along the jaw. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a close relationship among all Australian anhanguerids and points to an endemic Australian radiation within Anhangueridae. Thapunngaka shawi has the largest mandibular crest of any anhanguerian worldwide, and provides further evidence for the existence of an increasingly diverse range of large crested pterosaurs in the Australian part of eastern Gondwana during the Cretaceous.
And of course some images.
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