| Zhenyuanopterus Temporal range: Early Cretaceous, 124.6 Ma |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | †Pterosauria |
| Suborder: | †Pterodactyloidea |
| Family: | †Boreopteridae |
| Genus: | †Zhenyuanopterus Lü, 2010 |
| Species: | †Z. longirostris |
| Binomial name | |
| Zhenyuanopterus longirostris Lü, 2010 |
|
Zhenyuanopterus is a genus of pterosaur which is known from Lower Cretaceous (early Aptian) Yixian Formation of Liaoning, China.[1]
It has been suggested that Zhenyuanopterus foraged while swimming, trapping prey within its needle-like teeth, a method similar to that of modern Platanista river dolphins, which display a similar dentition.[2]
It has been often suggested that this animal is actually the adult of its close relative Boreopterus, which is known to be a juvenile.[2]