Jianchangnathus

Je-an-chan-na-fus.
Published on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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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.

Diet

Piscivore.

Species

J.‭ ‬robustus‭

Size

Unavailable.

Known locations

China,‭ ‬Hebei province‭ ‬-‭ ‬Tiaojishan Formation.

Time Period

Mid Jurassic.

Fossil representation

Single partial specimen.

In Depth

       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.

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