A police raid in Brazil uncovered the fossilized remains of a nearly complete tapejarid pterodactyloid pterosaur. It dates back to the Early Cretaceous and is notable for its large cranial crest, composed partly of bone and partly of soft tissue. the discovery was named Tupandactylus navigans and researchers believe that they used their crests to signal other Tupandactylus, much in the same way that modern toucans use their bright bills to signal to one another.
The researchers note that Tupandactylus navigans might not actually represent a separate species but could instead represent different sexes of a single sexually dimorphic species,Tupandactylus imperator, but note more research is needed. IIRC, T. imperator is only known by several skulls.
The paper, Osteology of an exceptionally well-preserved tapejarid skeleton from Brazil: Revealing the anatomy of a curious pterodactyloid clade, can be read by clicking the link. The abstract from it can be seen below
The researchers note that Tupandactylus navigans might not actually represent a separate species but could instead represent different sexes of a single sexually dimorphic species,Tupandactylus imperator, but note more research is needed. IIRC, T. imperator is only known by several skulls.
The paper, Osteology of an exceptionally well-preserved tapejarid skeleton from Brazil: Revealing the anatomy of a curious pterodactyloid clade, can be read by clicking the link. The abstract from it can be seen below
Abstract
A remarkably well-preserved, almost complete and articulated new specimen (GP/2E 9266) of Tupandactylus navigans is here described for the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil. The new specimen comprises an almost complete skeleton, preserving both the skull and post-cranium, associated with remarkable preservation of soft tissues, which makes it the most complete tapejarid known thus far. CT-Scanning was performed to allow the assessment of bones still covered by sediment. The specimen can be assigned to Tupa. navigans due to its vertical supra-premaxillary bony process and short and rounded parietal crest. It also bears the largest dentary crest among tapejarine pterosaurs and a notarium, which is absent in other representatives of the clade. The new specimen is here regarded as an adult individual. This is the first time that postcranial remains of Tupa. navigans are described, being also an unprecedented record of an articulated tapejarid skeleton from the Araripe Basin.
A remarkably well-preserved, almost complete and articulated new specimen (GP/2E 9266) of Tupandactylus navigans is here described for the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil. The new specimen comprises an almost complete skeleton, preserving both the skull and post-cranium, associated with remarkable preservation of soft tissues, which makes it the most complete tapejarid known thus far. CT-Scanning was performed to allow the assessment of bones still covered by sediment. The specimen can be assigned to Tupa. navigans due to its vertical supra-premaxillary bony process and short and rounded parietal crest. It also bears the largest dentary crest among tapejarine pterosaurs and a notarium, which is absent in other representatives of the clade. The new specimen is here regarded as an adult individual. This is the first time that postcranial remains of Tupa. navigans are described, being also an unprecedented record of an articulated tapejarid skeleton from the Araripe Basin.
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