Name:
Jianchangnathus
(Jianchang jaw).
Phonetic: Je-an-chan-na-fus.
Named By: Cheng Xin, Wang Xiaolin, Jiang
Shunxing & Alexander W.A. Kellner - 2012.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia,
Pterosauria, Rhamphorhynchidae, Scaphognathinae.
Species: J. robustus (type).
Diet: Piscivore.
Size: Unavailable.
Known locations: China, Hebei province -
Tiaojishan Formation.
Time period: Mid Jurassic.
Fossil representation: Single partial specimen.
Although
Jianchangnathus has been found to have several
similarities with
Scaphognathus,
its frontal teeth actually pointed forwards like with
Dorygnathus.
This may have been to make it easier for Jianchangnathus
to pick up fish with its mouth, significantly increasing the chance
of successful prey capture.
Another
pterosaur
from the same deposit is Fenghuangopterus,
a pterosaur
which is thought to be different to Jianchangnathus
on the basis of
differing wing proportions and number of teeth.
Further reading
- A new scaphognathid pterosaur from western Liaoning, China. -
Historical Biology 24(1):101-111. - X. Cheng, X. Wang, S. Jiang
& A. W. A. Kellner - 2012.