Pterosauria

Several members of Pterodactyloidea (top to bottom): Pteranodon, Pterodaustro, the skulls of several pterosaurs (Guidraco, Anhanguera, Tupandactylus, and an unnamed dsungaripterid), Quetzalcoatlus, Aerodactylus, and Coloborhynchus

Several members of Pterodactyloidea (top to bottom): Pteranodon, Pterodaustro, the skulls of several pterosaurs (Guidraco, Anhanguera, Tupandactylus, and an unnamed dsungaripterid), Quetzalcoatlus, Aerodactylus, and Coloborhynchus

The holotype of the pterosaur Lacusovagus

Australian Mesozoic pterosaurs. A, Aussiedraco molnari (QM F10613; holotype) mandible in dorsal view. Scale = 1 cm. B, Mythunga camara (QM F18896; holotype) partial skull and mandible in left lateral view. Scale = 5 cm. C, Thapunngaka shawi (KK F494; holotype) mandible in left lateral view. Scale = 5 cm. D, Ferrodraco lentoni (AODF 0876; holotype [part]) partial skull and mandible in left lateral view. Scale = 5 cm.

The Maastrichtian, Transylvanian giant azhdarchid pterosaur Hatzegopteryx sp. preys on the rhabdodontid iguanodontian Zalmoxes. Because large predatory theropods are unknown on Late Cretaceous Haţeg Island, giant azhdarchids may have played a key role as terrestrial predators in this community.

Representative taxa from the early Campanian Muthmannsdorf fauna from the Grünbach Formation, eastern Austria. A Doratodon carcharidens (Mesoeucrocodylia) mandible (PIUW 2349/57) in dorsal view (photo by Márton Rabi) B Indeterminate azhdarchid (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae), left humerus (PIUW 2349/102) in anterior view C ‘Megalosaurus pannoniensis’ basal tetanuran (Theropoda, Tetanurae), tooth (PIUW uncatalogued) in lateral view D Mochlodon suessi (Ornithopoda, Rhabdodontidae), right dentary (holotype, PIUW 2349/2) in medial view. Scale bars equal 2 cm in A, B and D and 1 cm in C.

Representative taxa from the Santonian Iharkút fauna from the Csehbánya Formation, Bakony Mountains, western Hungary. A Pannoniasaurus inexpectatus (Squamata, Mosasauroidea), dorsal vertebra (MTM uncatalogued) in dorsal view (photo by Réka Kalmár) B Foxemys trabanti (Pleurodira, Bothremydidae), skull (MTM V 2010.215.1.) in dorsal view (photo by Márton Rabi). C Bicuspidon aff. hatzegiensis (Squamata, Borioteiioidea), left dentary (MTM 2006.112.1.) in medial view (photo by László Makádi) D Basal tetanuran (Theropoda, Tetanurae), tooth (MTM V.01.54) in ?lingual view E Indeterminate abelisaurid (Theropoda, Abelisauridae), pedal ungual phalanx (MTM V 2008.43.1.) in lateral view F Pneumatoraptor fodori (Theropoda, Paraves), left scapulocoracoid (holotype, MTM V 2008.38.1.) in lateral view G Mochlodon vorosi (Ornithopoda, Rhabdodontidae), left dentary (holotype, MTM V 2010.105.1) in lateral view H Bakonydraco galaczi (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae), mandible (holotype, MTM 2007.110.1) in dorsal view I Iharkutosuchus makadii (Eusuchia, Hylaeochampsidae), skull (holotype, MTM 2006.52.1) in dorsal view J Hungarosaurus tormai (Ankylosauria, Nodosauridae), right dentary (MTM 2007.25.2) in lateral view K Bauxitornis mindszentyae (Aves, Enantiornithes), left tarsometatarsus (holotype, MTM V 2009.38.1) in anterior view L Ajkaceratops kozmai (Ceratopsia), fused rostral and premaxillae (holotype, MTM V 2009.192.1) in lateral view. Scale bars: 2 cm in A, V, G, H, I, J; 1 cm in D, E, F, K, L; 1 mm in C.

Palaeogeographic distribution of late Early and early Late Cretaceous pterosaur assemblages. Taxonomic composition of assemblages shown on Fig. 1. Palaeogeography based on Smith et al. 1994. Abbreviations: 1. Cambridge Greensand, England: 2. Lower Chalk, England: 3. Züümbayan Svita, Khuren-Dukh, Mongolia: 4. Lysaya Gora, Saratov, Russia: 5. Kem Kem red beds, Morocco: 6. Paw Paw Formation, Texas, USA: 7. Lagarcito Formation, San Luis, Argentina: 8. Santana and Crato Formations, Ceara, Brazil: 9. Toolebuc Formation, Queensland, Australia.

(A) Map of Queensland showing the extent of Cretaceous outcrop. (B) Map of the location of Dig Site Three (type locality of Haliskia), and numerous other sites in the area from which pterosaur fossils have been collected.

A cast replica of a skeletal mount of the prehistoric pterosaur Anhanguera blittersdorffi on display at Melbourne Museum in Victoria, Australia.

Life restoration of the Brazilian ornithocheiroid pterosaur Anhanguera blittersdorffi. Digital painting; credit Matt Martyniuk.

Fossil specimen of early Cretaceous pterosaur Sinopterus dongi, which is collected from Chaoyang, Liaoning, China. The specimen (BMNHC Ph773) is a collection of Beijing Museum of Natural History and was on display in the National Museum of Natural Science (Taichung, Taiwan) during a special exhibition.

Fossil specimen of early Cretaceous pterosaur Sinopterus dongi, which is collected from Chaoyang, Liaoning, China. The specimen (BMNHC Ph773) is a collection of Beijing Museum of Natural History and was on display in the National Museum of Natural Science (Taichung, Taiwan) during a special exhibition.

Classification: Pterosauria, Anhangueridae

Classification: Pterosauria, Anhangueridae

Classification: Pterosauria, Anhangueridae