Discovery of the largest pterosaur from South America

A giant humerus (450 mm total length) belonging to one of the largest pterosaur recorded in South America is described. The specimen (UNCUYO-LD 350) was discovered in the Upper Cretaceous (upper Coniacian – lower Santonian) Plottier Formation of the Mendoza Province, northern Neuquén Basin, Argentin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cretaceous research 2018-03, Vol.83, p.40-46
Main Authors: Ortiz David, Leonardo D., González Riga, Bernardo J., Kellner, Alexander W.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cretaceous
Flying reptile
Mendoza
Neuquén Basin
Pterosauria
Tapejaroidea
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Description
Summary:A giant humerus (450 mm total length) belonging to one of the largest pterosaur recorded in South America is described. The specimen (UNCUYO-LD 350) was discovered in the Upper Cretaceous (upper Coniacian – lower Santonian) Plottier Formation of the Mendoza Province, northern Neuquén Basin, Argentina. It was found associated with a smaller pterosaur specimen represented by around thirty postcranial bones. The specimen is assigned to Tapejaroidea and show characters of both Tapejaridae and Azhdarchidae. Based on comparisions with other Azdharchidae species, a wingspan of 9.1 m is estimated for UNCUYO-LD 350, showing that giant pterosaurs were present in South America during the Upper Cretaceous.
ISSN:0195-6671
1095-998X
DOI:10.1016/j.cretres.2017.10.004