Aerotitan: Research Database
Azhdarchoidea (Pterosauria) · Late Cretaceous (~83 MYA) · South America — Bolivia (El Molino Formation)
Research Note: Aerotitan was an azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Bolivia — the first azhdarchoid described from Bolivia and an important taxon for understanding pterosaur diversity in South America.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Labita & Martill 2020: Aerotitan and new data on azhdarchoid diversity from the Cretaceous of Bolivia
Labita & Martill 2020 provide comprehensive data on Aerotitan from the El Molino Formation of Bolivia, establishing it as an azhdarchoid and documenting pterosaur diversity in the Late Cretaceous of South America
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Confirmed | A | 2020 | Fossil | Labita & Martill, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
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Martill 2010: Aerotitan and additional data on pterosaur paleobiology
Martill 2010 provides additional data on Aerotitan and pterosaur paleobiology, further contextualising its significance within Azhdarchoidea
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Confirmed | B | 2010 | Fossil | Martill, Cretaceous Research | Paleobiology |
Active Debate: Azhdarchoid Evolution in South America
Whether Aerotitan is related to other azhdarchoids is debated. The evolution of azhdarchoid pterosaurs in the Late Cretaceous of South America — and their biogeographic relationships — is key to understanding Cretaceous pterosaur ecosystems.
What We Still Do Not Know About Aerotitan
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Diet: Likely carnivore.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Relationships: Partially understood.
In Depth
Although named from very little fossil remains, Aerotitan is thought to be one of the azdarchid pterosaurs, and if correct, this would make Aerotitan the first known confirmed azdarchid pterosaur from South America. The azdarchid pterosaurs are a special group noted for having proportionately long necks supported by lengthened cervical (neck) vertebrae. Some of these such as Quetzalcoatlus and Hatzegopteryx grew to truly gigantic sizes, but uncertainty has shrouded what they ate. Studies of azdarchids show that they would have been most comfortable while feeding on the ground since the long neck provided little support for the head against water resistance while feeding upon the wing. Popular thinking about azdarchids at the time of writing envisions them as living more like storks, sitting on the edge of a body of water and snatching fish from the shallows, or even stalking small vertebrates like lizards and mammals through dense but low growing vegetation.
Aerotitan was first described from fossils that were thought to represent the rostrum, a part of the upper jaws. Later analysis of the fossils however (P�gas et al) has led to an alternative hypothesis that they are actually part of the lower jaws.
Further Reading
- A new large pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia, Fernando Emilio Novas, Martin Kundrat, Federico Agnol�na, Mart�n Ezcurra, Per Erik Ahlberg, Marcelo Isasi, Alberto Arriagada & Pablo Chafrat - 2012. – On the pterosaur Aerotitan sudamericanus (Neuqu�n Basin, Upper Cretaceous of Argentina), with comments on azhdarchoid phylogeny and jaw anatomy. – Cretaceous Research. 129: Article 104998. – Rodrigo V.P�gas, BorjaHolgado, Leonardo D.Ortiz David, Mattia A.Baiano & Fabiana R.Costa – 2021.
