Noripterus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Noripterus Fossil range: Early Cretaceous |
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| Noripterus complicidens Yang, 1973 |
Noripterus (meaning "lake wing") is a genus of dsungaripterid dsungaripteroid pterodactyloid pterosaur from Lower Cretaceous-age rocks in the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang, China. It is based on IVPP 64041, comprising the front part of the skull and lower jaws, vertebrae, and partial limbs and pelvis; remains from other individuals are also known. This specimen was described by Yang Zhongjian (also known as C.C. Young in older sources), who found it to be quite similar to the contemporaneous Dsungaripterus although a third smaller. It has long narrow neck vertebrae and, like Dsungaripterus, no teeth in the front of the lower jaw. The teeth that are present are well-developed and spaced fairly far apart.[1] Because of its similarity to Dsungaripterus, it has been assigned to the Dsungaripteridae.[1][2][3][4][5]
[edit] Paleobiology
Dsungaripterids like Noripterus are interpreted as adapted for feeding on shellfish, with long narrow toothless beak tips for probing for and picking up suitable prey, and robust teeth farther back for cracking shells. The skulls of these animals are more robust than those of other pterosaurs, as well as their limbs and vertebrae.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Zhongjian, Yang (1973). "Reports of Paleontological Expedition to Sinkiang (II): Pterosaurian Fauna from Wuerho, Sinkiang" (in Chinese). Memoirs of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology Academia Sinica 11: 18–35.
- ^ Wellnhofer, Peter [1991] (1996). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 120. ISBN 0-7607-0154-7.
- ^ Kellner, Alexander W.A. (2003). "Pterosaur phylogeny and comments on the evolutionary history of the group", in Buffetaut, Eric; and Mazin, Jean-Michel: Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs, Geological Society Special Publication 217. London: The Geological Society, 105-137. ISBN 1-86239-143-2.
- ^ Unwin, David M. (2003) "On the phylogeny and evolutionary history of pterosaurs", in Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs, 139-190.}}
- ^ a b Unwin, David M. (2006). The Pterosaurs: From Deep Time. New York: Pi Press, 273. ISBN ISBN 0-13-146308-X.
[edit] External links
- Noripterus in the Pterosaur Database
