Pterodaustro

Taxobox
name = "Pterodaustro"
fossil_range = Fossil range|140Early Cretaceous

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = life restoration of "Pterodaustro guinazui"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Pterosauria
subordo = Pterodactyloidea
familia = Ctenochasmatidae
genus = "Pterodaustro"
genus_authority = Bonaparte, 1969
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "P. guinazui" (type)
* "P. sp."

"Pterodaustro" was a Cretaceous pterosaur from South America, living 140 million years ago. "Pterodaustro" had a wingspan of 133 centimeters (52 in), and possessed about 1,000 tall, narrow bristle like teeth, which presumably were used in filter-feeding, much like modern flamingos.cite book |last=Wellnhofer |first=Peter |authorlink=Peter Wellnhofer |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs |origyear=1991 |year=1996 |publisher=Barnes and Noble Books |location=New York |isbn=0-7607-0154-7 |pages=132 ] It had many bristle-like structures on its jaw that might have been used to strain crustaceans, plankton, algae, and other small creatures from the water. It probably either waded in shallow water like flamingos, straining food, or possibly skim over the water while flying, using its beak like a basket. Once it caught its food, "Pterodaustro" probably mashed it with its small globular teeth from its upper jaw. Like flamingos, this pterosaur's diet may have resulted in a pink hue. Thus, it is often dubbed the "flamingo pterosaur".

It was discovered in 1970 by José Bonaparte in the Lagarcito Formation, situated in the San Luis Province of Patagonia, Argentina. It has also been found in Chile.

References

* "Fantastic Facts About Dinosaurs" (ISBN 0-7525-3166-2)
* [http://www.fernbank.edu/museum/giants/Pterodaustro.html Giants of the Mesozoic: Pterodaustro]
* "The Enclycopedia of Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Creatures"