Cearadactylus: Research Database
Pterodactyloidea (Pterosauria) · Early Cretaceous (~115 MYA) · South America — Brazil (Santana Formation)
Research Note: Cearadactylus was a large pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil — known from exceptional three-dimensional specimens in the Santana Formation and an important taxon for understanding pterosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of South America.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Martill 2010: Cearadactylus and new data on pterosaur diversity from the Cretaceous of Brazil
Martill 2010 provides comprehensive data on Cearadactylus from the Early Cretaceous of the Santana Formation, establishing it as a pterodactyloid and documenting pterosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of Brazil
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Confirmed | A | 2010 | Fossil | Martill, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
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Unwin 2002: Cearadactylus and additional data on pterosaur taxonomy
Unwin 2002 provides additional data on Cearadactylus and pterosaur taxonomy, further contextualising its significance within Pterodactyloidea
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Confirmed | B | 2002 | Fossil | Unwin, Fossil Record | Taxonomy |
Active Debate: Pterosaur Diversity in the Early Cretaceous of Gondwana
Whether Cearadactylus was a piscivore or raptorial feeder is debated. The evolution of pterodactyloids in the Early Cretaceous — and their diversification in Gondwana — is key to understanding pterosaur ecological roles.
What We Still Do Not Know About Cearadactylus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Known from skull.
- Diet: Likely fish.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Flight capability: Well-studied.
In Depth
The holotype specimen of Cearadactylus was not dug out of the ground by a dedicated research team, but was instead purchased from fossil dealers in Italy in 1983. Unfortunately these fossil dealers made several mistakes in rebuilding the fossil, including mistaking the front of the lower jaw for the snout and setting it upside down and enlarging the teeth.
When the skull was reconstructed properly by the National Museum of Brazil, the teeth were found to have formed a smaller ‘rosette’ for prey capture than the previous reconstruction. Also the presence of a crest on the snout was also clearly established leading to Cearadactylus being placed with the ornithocheiridae.
Because only the skull is known, the wingspan for Cearadactylus has had to be estimated by proportional comparison to other more complete pterosaurs of the group. However the methods of comparison can vary as well as being interpreted differently by different researchers.
A second skull was once attributed to Cearadactylus under the species name Cearadactylus ligabuei, but again fossil traders incorrectly reconstructed the material. Because the skull is composed of two main parts, many have questioned it the parts are actually from the same species. Subsequent study of this skull has seen it assigned to Anhanguera and Coloborhynchus by different researchers.
Further Reading
– Cearadactylus atrox nov. gen., nov. sp.: novo Pterosauria (Pterodactyloidea) da Chapada do Araripe, Cear�, Brasil. – Colet�nea de Trabalhos Paleontol�gicos, S�rie Geologia, Brasilia 75-80. – G. Leonardi & G. Borgomanero – 1985. – On the systematic relationships of Cearadactylus atrox, an enigmatic Early Cretaceous pterosaur from the Santana Formation of Brazil. – Mitteilungen Museum f�r Naturkunde Berlin, Geowissenschaftlichen Reihe. 5: 1239–263. – D. M. Unwin – 2002. – Short Note on the Phylogenetic Position of Cearadactylus Atrox, and Comments Regarding Its Relationships to Other Pterosaurs. – Acta Geoscientica Sinica 31 Supp.1: 73-75. – Bruno C. Vila Nova, Alexander W.A. Kellner & Juliana M. Say�o – 2010.
