Liaoxipterus

Name: Liaoxipterus (Liaoxi wing).
Phonetic: Lee-ow-ip-teh-rus.
Named By: Dong Zhiming & Lü Junchang - 2005.
Synonyms: Possibly Nurhachius.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea, Istiodactylidae.
Species: L. brachyognathus (type).
Diet: Possibly a piscivore.
Size: Uncertain due to incomplete material.
Known locations: China, Liaoning Province, Jiufotang Formation.
Time period: Barremian to Aptian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Almost complete mandible (lower jaw).

       Because of the way the teeth were arranged, Liaoxipterus was initially thought to have been a filter feeder of the ctenochasmatid group of pterosaurs, however Liaoxipterus had a lower number of teeth than others members of this group. Later studies in 2006 and 2008 respectively have now placed Liaoxipterus into the istiodactylid pterosaur group.
       Liaoxipterus may actually be better known than just a mandible as the pterosaur Nurhacius has been suggested to be a junior synonym of Liaoxipterus. If true then this may also bring in the pterosaur Longchengpterus which is considered by some to actually be a synonym of Nurhacius.

Further reading
- A new ctenochasmatid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning Province. - Acta Geologica Sinica 79(2):164-167. - Z. Dong & J. Lü - 2005.
- Restudy of Liaoxipterus (Istiodactylidae: Pterosauria), with comments on the Chinese istiodactylid pterosaurs - J. Lü, L. Xu & Q. Ji. - In, Flugsaurier: pterosaur papers in honour of Peter Wellnhofer, Zitteliana B28: 229–241 - D. W. E. Hone & E. Buffetaut (eds.) - 2008.

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