Barbaridactylus: Research Database
Pterosauria (Avialae) · Late Cretaceous (~66 MYA) · Africa — Morocco (Phosphate Basin)
Research Note: Barbaridactylus was a pterosaur from the Latest Cretaceous phosphate deposits of Morocco. As a member of the pterosaur fauna of the Latest Cretaceous of North Africa, it provides important data on pterosaur diversity just before the K-Pg extinction.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Martill & Unwin 2017: Barbaridactylus from the Latest Cretaceous of Morocco
Martill & Unwin 2017 provide the original description of Barbaridactylus from the Latest Cretaceous phosphate deposits of Morocco, establishing its pterosaurian affinities and documenting pterosaur diversity in the Latest Cretaceous of North Africa
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Confirmed | A | 2017 | Fossil | Martill & Unwin, Cretaceous Research | Taxonomy |
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Labita & Martill 2020: Additional pterosaur material from the Latest Cretaceous of Morocco
Labita & Martill 2020 provide additional data on pterosaur diversity from the Latest Cretaceous phosphate deposits of Morocco, expanding our understanding of the final pterosaur faunas before the K-Pg extinction
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Confirmed | B | 2020 | Fossil | Labita & Martill, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
Active Debate: The Final Pterosaur Faunas Before the K-Pg Extinction
Whether Barbaridactylus represents an azhdarchoid pterosaur or belongs to another group is debated.
What We Still Do Not Know About Barbaridactylus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Wingspan: Estimated.
- Diet: Likely piscivorous.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Barbaridactylus is a genus of pterosaur that lived in North Africa during the late Cretaceous. Barbaridactylus has been identified as a nyctosauird pterosaur, a kind usually associated with coastal areas and hunting for fish.
Further Reading
- Late Maastrichtian pterosaurs from North Africa and mass extinction of Pterosauria at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. - PLOS Biology. 16 (3): e2001663. - Nicholas R. Longrich, David M. Martill & Brian Andres – 2018.
