Abstract

The Chaoyangopteridae is a clade of azhdarchoid pterosaurs that stands out in China, particularly in the Jehol Biota, as a Cretaceous group of medium-sized and high-crested pterosaurs. Herein, we describe a new species, Meilifeilong youhao gen. et sp. nov., based on two specimens, one tentatively referred to this taxon. This new species represents the most complete and well-preserved chaoyangopterid recorded to date. Along with a set of characters (low premaxillary crest above the nasoantorbital fenestra extending posteriorly, posterior premaxillary process arched and curving posteriorly, a slightly convex sternal articulation surface of coracoid, and a fibular shaft close to proximal articulation strongly arched posteriorly), this species also provides new information both on the unknown palatal region of this clade, and on the rarely preserved (in place) ear portion with stapes. Moreover, M. youhao sheds light on paleoecological aspects, while also giving new information about the taxonomic diversity of this peculiar group of Jiufotang pterosaurs.

Details

Title
A new toothless pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota with comments on the Chaoyangopteridae
Author
Wang, Xiaolin 1 ; Kellner, Alexander W. A. 2 ; Jiang, Shunxing 3 ; Chen, He 4 ; Costa, Fabiana R. 5 ; Cheng, Xin 6 ; Zhang, Xinjun 7 ; Nova, Bruno C. Vila 2 ; de Almeida Campos, Diogenes 8 ; Sayão, Juliana M. 2 ; Rodrigues, Taissa 9 ; Bantim, Renan A. M. 10 ; Saraiva, Antônio A. F. 10 ; Zhou, Zhonghe 3 

 Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China (GRID:grid.9227.e) (ISNI:0000000119573309); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (GRID:grid.410726.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1797 8419) 
 Museu Nacional/UFRJ, Laboratory of Systematics and Taphonomy of Fossil Vertebrates, Department of Geology and Paleontology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GRID:grid.8536.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2294 473X) 
 Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China (GRID:grid.9227.e) (ISNI:0000000119573309) 
 Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China (GRID:grid.9227.e) (ISNI:0000000119573309); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (GRID:grid.410726.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1797 8419); Sun Yat-Sen University, School of Ecology, Shenzhen, China (GRID:grid.12981.33) (ISNI:0000 0001 2360 039X) 
 Federal University of ABC, Laboratory of Vertebrate Paleontology and Animal Behavior (LAPC), Center of Natural and Human Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil (GRID:grid.412368.a) (ISNI:0000 0004 0643 8839) 
 Jilin University, College of Earth Sciences, Changchun, China (GRID:grid.64924.3d) (ISNI:0000 0004 1760 5735) 
 Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China (GRID:grid.9227.e) (ISNI:0000000119573309); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (GRID:grid.410726.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1797 8419); Shenyang Normal University, College of Paleontology, Shenyang, China (GRID:grid.263484.f) (ISNI:0000 0004 1759 8467) 
 Museu de Ciências da Terra, Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GRID:grid.452625.2) (ISNI:0000 0001 2175 5929) 
 Federal University of Espírito Santo, Department of Biology, Vitória, Brazil (GRID:grid.412371.2) (ISNI:0000 0001 2167 4168) 
10  Museu de Paleontologia Plácido, Cidade Nuvens, Regional University of Cariri, Crato, Brazil (GRID:grid.412371.2) 
Pages
22642
Publication year
2023
Publication date
2023
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2904484471
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2023. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.