Santanadactylus

Taxobox
name = "Santanadactylus"
status = fossil
fossil_range = Early Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Pterosauria
subordo = Pterodactyloidea
familia = uncertain
genus = "Santanadactylus"
genus_authority = Buisonjé, 1980
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
*"S. brasilensis" (type)
*?"S. araripensis" Wellnhofer, 1985
*?"S. pricei" Wellnhofer, 1985
*?"S. spixi" Wellnhofer, 1985

"Santandactylus" (meaning "Santana Formation wing") was a genus of pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Aptian-age Romualdo Member of the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation, of Barra do Jardim, Araripe Plateau, Ceará Province, Brazil. Four species have been named. It was a large, long-necked pterosaur, with a relatively short snout, with teeth.

History and Species

The type species, "S. brasilensis", is based on Geological Institute of the University of Amsterdam 4894, a portion of the right humerus and scapulacoracoid; other remains, including cervical vertebrae from a different individual were also included in the genus.de Buisonjé, P.H. (1980). "Santanadactylus brasiliensis" nov.gen. nov.sp. a longnecked, large pterosaur from the Aptian of Brazil. "Proceedings of the Koninklijke Nederlanse Akademie van Wetenschappen" B 83(2):145-172.] Additional remains, including a notarium (fused vertebrae supporting the shoulder) have been referred to it since then.Wellnhofer, P., Buffetaut, E., and Gigase, P. (1983). A pterosaurian notarium from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. "Paläontologische Zeitschrift" 57147-157.] Wellnhofer, P. (1991). Weitere Pterosaurierfunde aus der Santana-Formation (Apt) der Chapada do Araripe, Brasilien. "Palaeontographica" A 215:43–101. [German] ] The structure of the humerus suggests an ornithocheirid, but the long neck vertebrae argue against this.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=124 ]

In 1985, Peter Wellnhofer, a paleontologist who has written numerous scientific publications on pterosaurs, named three additional species: "S. araripensis", "S. pricei", and "S. spixi".Wellnhofer, P. (1985). Neue Pterosaurier aus der Santana-Formation (Apt) der Chapada do Araripe, Brasilien. "Palaontographica" A 187:105-182. [German] ] "S. araripensis" was a large species based on remains including a partial skull (missing the end of the jaws) and arms; the preserved skull section had no crest. "S. pricei" was the smallest of the three species; it was based on BSP 1980 I 22, a left wing from the elbow down, and additional arm material has been referred to it over the years. "S. spixi", intermediate in size, was based on BSP 1980 I 22, another left wing.

Over the years, the species of this taxon have been reassessed. Chris Bennett suggested that "S. brasilensis" was a chimera of a pteranodontid and something else, "S. araripensis" and "S. pricei" were pteranodontids, and "S. spixi" was a dsugaripterid.Bennett, S.C. (1989). A pteranodontid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Peru, with comments on the relationships of Cretaceous pterosaurs. "Journal of Paleontology" 63:669-677.] Wellnhofer removed "S. spixi" from the genus as well, in 1991. In 1992, Kellner and Campos suggested that "S. spixi" was a tapejarid.Kellner, A.W.A., and Campos, D. de A. (1992), A new tapejarid from the Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous) from the Araripe Basin, Northeastern Brasil. "Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology" 12(Supplement to 3):36–37A.] Part of the problem is the complicated taxonomy of Santana Formation pterosaurs and their English contemporaries, involving numerous genera, such as "Amblydectes", "Anhanguera", "Araripesaurus", "Criorhynchus", "Coloborhynchus", "Lonchodectes", "Ornithocheirus", and "Tropeognathus".

Paleobiology

"Santanadactylus" is regarded as a large pterosaur, with a wingspan of 2.9-5.7 m (9.5-18.7 ft). It may have been adapted for gliding over flapping flight.Glut, D.F. (2006). "Santanadactylus" In: Glut, D.F. "Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia." 4nd Supplement. McFarland & Company, Inc.:Jefferson, North Carolina, 628-629. ISBN 0-7864-2295-5.]

References

External links

* [http://www.pterosaur.co.uk/species/LCP/Crio/Colobo-arerip.htm "Santadactylus araripensis"] as a species of "Coloborhynchus", The Pterosaur Database. Accessed 2007-02-09
* [http://www.pterosaur.co.uk/species/LCP/Dsung/spixi.htm ?"Santanadactylus spixi"] in The Pterosaur Database. Accessed 2007-02-09
* [http://archosauria.org/pterosauria/taxonomy/genera/santanadactylus.html "Santanadactylus"] in The Pterosauria. Accessed 2007-02-09
* [http://dml.cmnh.org/2001Nov/msg00559.html Re: Pterosaur Help] , a posting from George Olshevsky on the Dinosaur Mailing List, which, although incomplete, should give some idea as to the complexity of the taxonomy here. Accessed 2007-02-09