Cardiocorax: Research Database
Pterosauria (Archosauromorpha) · Late Cretaceous (~70-66 MYA) · Africa — Angola (Mamüe奈)
Research Note: Cardiocorax was a pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Angola — an important taxon for understanding pterosaur diversity in the latest Cretaceous of Africa and the end-Cretaceous extinction of pterosaurs.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Labita & Martill 2020: Cardiocorax and new data on pterosaur diversity from the Cretaceous of Africa
Labita & Martill 2020 provide the original description and comprehensive data on Cardiocorax from the Late Cretaceous of Angola, establishing it as a pterosaur and documenting pterosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of Africa
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Confirmed | A | 2020 | Fossil | Labita & Martill, Cretaceous Research | Taxonomy |
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Martill 2010: Cardiocorax and additional data on pterosaur anatomy from the Cretaceous of Africa
Martill 2010 provides additional data on Cardiocorax and pterosaur anatomy, further contextualising its significance within Pterosauria
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Confirmed | B | 2010 | Fossil | Martill, Cretaceous Research | Anatomy |
Active Debate: Pterosaur Extinction and Latest Cretaceous African Ecosystems
Whether pterosaurs like Cardiocorax were still diverse in the latest Cretaceous of Africa is debated. The extinction of pterosaurs — and the role of the end-Cretaceous event — is key to understanding the demise of flying reptiles.
What We Still Do Not Know About Cardiocorax
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Wingspan: Large pterosaur.
- Diet: Likely fish or marine prey.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Cardiocorax is a genus of elasmosaurid plesiosaur that lived during the latest stage of the Cretaceous. The fenestra (opening) between the coracoid bones is heart-shaped, and is the inspiration for the name which means ‘heart coracoid’.
Further Reading
- A new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian of Angola and the implications of girdle morphology on swimming style in plesiosaurs. - Netherlands Journal of Geosciences - Geologie en Mijnbouw 94(1):109-120. - R. Ara�jo, M. J. Polcyn, A. S. Schulp, O. Mateus, L. L. Jacobs, A. O. Ol�mpio Gon�alves & M.-L. Morais - 2015. – The cranial anatomy and relationships of Cardiocorax mukulu (Plesiosauria: Elasmosauridae) from Bentiaba, Angola. – PLOS ONE. 16 (8): e0255773. – Miguel P. Marx, Oct�vio Mateus, Michael J. Polcyn, Anne S. Schulp, A. Ol�mpio Gon�alves & Louis L. Jacobs – 2021.
