Araripedactylus

A-ra-ri-pe-dak-tyl-us.
By Benjamin Gutierrez
Published on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Gutierrez, B. (2011, December 28). Araripedactylus. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/araripedactylus/

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Name

Araripedactylus (Araripe finger).

Phonetic

A-ra-ri-pe-dak-tyl-us.

Named By

Peter Wellnhofer - 1977.

Classification

Chordata, Reptilia, Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea.

Diet

Unknown due to incomplete fossil material.

Species

A. dehmi

Size

Wingspan estimated at being around 4.8 to 5 meters wide.

Known locations

Brazil - Santana Formation.

Time Period

Albian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

First phalanx of the right wing finger.

In Depth

       Because so little fossil material is known about this pterosaur, it is impossible to say exactly what kind of pterosaur Araripedactylus was. Some have drawn similarities between the scant material of Araripedactylus and Anhanguera, but further comparison is at this time impossible.

Further Reading

Further reading- Araripedactylus dehmi nov. gen., nov. sp., ein neuer Flugsaurier aus der Unterkreide von Brasilien. – Mitteilungen dr Bayerischen Staatssammlung f�r Pal�ontologie und historische Geologie 17:157-167. – P. Wellnhofer – 1977.

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