An unusual long-tailed pterosaur with elongated neck from western Liaoning of China

Xiaolin Wang,Alexander W.A Kellner,Xi Meng,Shunxing Jiang

doi:10.1590/s0001-37652009000400016

Abstract

A new long-tailed pterosaur, Wukongopterus lii gen. et sp. nov, is described based on an almost complete skeleton (IVPP V15113) representing an individual with an estimated wing span of 730 mm. The specimen was discovered in strata that possibly represent the Daohugou Bed (or Daohugou Formation) at Linglongta, Jianchang, Liaoning Province, China. Wukongopterus lii is a non-pterodactyloid pterosaur diagnosed by the first two pairs of premaxillary teeth protruding beyond the dentary, elongated cervical vertebrae (convergent with Pterodactyloidea), and a strongly curved second pedal phalanx of the fifth toe. The specimen further has a broken tibia that indicates an injury occurred while the individual was still alive. Taphonomic aspects provide indirect evidence of an uropatagium, supporting the general hypothesis that at least all non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs show a membrane between the hind limbs. A phylogenetic analysis including most non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs shows that Wukongopterus lii gen. et sp. nov. lies outside the Novialoidea, being cladistically more primitive than the Rhamphorhynchidae and Capylognathoides. This analysis differs from previous studies and indicates that more work is needed before a stable picture of non-pterodactyloid pterosaur relationships is achieved.

Highlights

Since the description of the first pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota (Ji and Ji 1997), about 28 species have been recorded, 13 from the Yixian and 15 from the Jiufotang formations, respectively
The long tail, short wing metacarpals and long pedal digit V clearly indicate that Wukongopterus lii is not a member of the Pterodactyloidea
The present analysis shows that Wukongopterus lii is a primitive non-pterodactyloid placed outside the Novialoidea, but more derived relative to the Anurognathidae, Austriadactylus, Sordes, Preondactylus, and Scaphognathus (Fig. 4)

Summary

Introduction

Since the description of the first pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota (Ji and Ji 1997), about 28 species have been recorded, 13 from the Yixian and 15 from the Jiufotang formations, respectively (see Wang, Kellner et al 2005, 2008, Wang and Zhou 2006, Wang, Kellner et al 2008, Lü et al 2006, Lü et al 2008, Andres and Ji 2008). The fact that the broken part of the left hind limb is still in close contact with the body argues for the presence of an uropatagium in Wukongopterus lii, as has been reported in a few primitive pterosaurs (Unwin and Bakhurina 1994, Wang et al 2002).

Results

Conclusion