A new pterodactyloid pterosaur with a unique filter-feeding apparatus
from the Late Jurassic of Germany
Abstract
A new long-legged, spatula-beaked, filter-feeding pterodactyloid
pterosaur from Upper Jurassic plattenkalk limestones at Wattendorf,
Bavaria, Southern Germany, is remarkable for its completeness, unusual dentition and hints of the preservation of soft tissues, including
wing membranes. The fully articulated specimen displays both jaws each
side with over one hundred sub-parallel-sided teeth with a small,
slightly hooked expansion at the crown tip. There are at least 480
teeth in total. The tip of the rostrum widens to a spatula-like,
laterally concave structure with teeth only along its lateral margins.
The straight anterior margin is devoid of teeth allowing plankton-rich
water to stream in, while the teeth interdigitate forming a fine mesh
trap. A slightly up swept rostrum assisted filtering by probable
pulsating movements of the long neck, while wading or swimming through shallow water.
Open access:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-022-00644-4
On 1/23/23 12:53 PM, Pandora wrote:
A new pterodactyloid pterosaur with a unique filter-feeding apparatus
from the Late Jurassic of Germany
Abstract
A new long-legged, spatula-beaked, filter-feeding pterodactyloid
pterosaur from Upper Jurassic plattenkalk limestones at Wattendorf,
Bavaria, Southern Germany, is remarkable for its completeness, unusual
dentition and hints of the preservation of soft tissues, including
wing membranes. The fully articulated specimen displays both jaws each
side with over one hundred sub-parallel-sided teeth with a small,
slightly hooked expansion at the crown tip. There are at least 480
teeth in total. The tip of the rostrum widens to a spatula-like,
laterally concave structure with teeth only along its lateral margins.
The straight anterior margin is devoid of teeth allowing plankton-rich
water to stream in, while the teeth interdigitate forming a fine mesh
trap. A slightly up swept rostrum assisted filtering by probable
pulsating movements of the long neck, while wading or swimming through
shallow water.
Open access:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-022-00644-4
How does it compare with Pterodaustro?
On Mon, 23 Jan 2023 17:37:22 -0800, John Harshman
<john.harshman@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/23/23 12:53 PM, Pandora wrote:
A new pterodactyloid pterosaur with a unique filter-feeding apparatus
from the Late Jurassic of Germany
Abstract
A new long-legged, spatula-beaked, filter-feeding pterodactyloid
pterosaur from Upper Jurassic plattenkalk limestones at Wattendorf,
Bavaria, Southern Germany, is remarkable for its completeness, unusual
dentition and hints of the preservation of soft tissues, including
wing membranes. The fully articulated specimen displays both jaws each
side with over one hundred sub-parallel-sided teeth with a small,
slightly hooked expansion at the crown tip. There are at least 480
teeth in total. The tip of the rostrum widens to a spatula-like,
laterally concave structure with teeth only along its lateral margins.
The straight anterior margin is devoid of teeth allowing plankton-rich
water to stream in, while the teeth interdigitate forming a fine mesh
trap. A slightly up swept rostrum assisted filtering by probable
pulsating movements of the long neck, while wading or swimming through
shallow water.
Open access:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-022-00644-4
How does it compare with Pterodaustro?
Look at fig.24: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-022-00644-4/figures/24
According to the cladogram Balaenognathus is slightly more derived: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-022-00644-4/figures/22
On 1/24/23 6:12 AM, Pandora wrote:
On Mon, 23 Jan 2023 17:37:22 -0800, John Harshman
<john.h...@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/23/23 12:53 PM, Pandora wrote:
A new pterodactyloid pterosaur with a unique filter-feeding apparatus
from the Late Jurassic of Germany
Abstract
A new long-legged, spatula-beaked, filter-feeding pterodactyloid
pterosaur from Upper Jurassic plattenkalk limestones at Wattendorf,
Bavaria, Southern Germany, is remarkable for its completeness, unusual >>> dentition and hints of the preservation of soft tissues, including
wing membranes. The fully articulated specimen displays both jaws each >>> side with over one hundred sub-parallel-sided teeth with a small,
slightly hooked expansion at the crown tip. There are at least 480
teeth in total. The tip of the rostrum widens to a spatula-like,
laterally concave structure with teeth only along its lateral margins. >>> The straight anterior margin is devoid of teeth allowing plankton-rich >>> water to stream in, while the teeth interdigitate forming a fine mesh
trap. A slightly up swept rostrum assisted filtering by probable
pulsating movements of the long neck, while wading or swimming through >>> shallow water.
Open access:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-022-00644-4
How does it compare with Pterodaustro?
Look at fig.24: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-022-00644-4/figures/24
According to the cladogram Balaenognathus is slightly more derived: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-022-00644-4/figures/22I don't know a lot about pterosaur systematics, but I see that the
relevant clade is Ctenochasmatidae, to which all the apparent
filter-feeders are assigned. One has to wonder whether this is a real
clade or a convergent assemblage, united by ecology, rather like "Insectivora".
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