New exceptionally well-preserved Pterosauria from the Lower Cretaceous Araripe Basin, Northeast Brazil

Abstract

This study describes two pterosaur specimens from the Romualdo Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Aptian–Albian), Araripe Basin, from the municipalities of Araripina and Exu of Pernambuco State, Northeast Brazil. Specimen DGEO-CTG-UFPE 7571 comprises the distal ends of radius and ulna, the carpal complex, sesamoid bones and the proximal end of metacarpals III and IV. The bones were found articulated and exceptionally well-preserved. This specimen had a wingspan between 5.5 and 5.8 m and is tentatively referred to as Anhangueridae due to the presence of a ventral crest on the distal end of the ulna and because only metacarpals III and IV reach the carpus. Histological analysis indicates it was sub-adult. The other specimen, DGEO-CTG-UFPE 7781, is identified as Pterodactyloidea indet. and consists of proximal fragments of the first three digits of the manus and their respective unguals, and fragments of the fourth digit. This is the first pterosaur reported for the municipality of Araripina, and is one of the few records with a well-defined provenance.