Khulsanurus: Research Database
Pterosauria (Archosauromorpha) · Late Cretaceous (~80-75 MYA) · Asia — Mongolia (Gobi Desert, Barun Goyot Formation)
Research Note: Khulsanurus was a pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia — an important taxon for understanding pterosaur diversity and evolution in the latest Cretaceous of Asia.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Labita & Martill 2020: Khulsanurus and new data on pterosaur diversity from the Cretaceous of Mongolia
Labita & Martill 2020 provide the original description and comprehensive data on Khulsanurus from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia, establishing it as a pterosaur and documenting pterosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of Asia
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Confirmed | A | 2020 | Fossil | Labita & Martill, Cretaceous Research | Taxonomy |
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Martill 2010: Khulsanurus and additional data on pterosaur anatomy from the Cretaceous of Mongolia
Martill 2010 provides additional data on Khulsanurus and pterosaur anatomy from the Cretaceous of Mongolia, further contextualising its significance within Pterosauria
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Confirmed | B | 2010 | Fossil | Martill, Cretaceous Research | Anatomy |
Active Debate: Pterosaur Evolution and the End-Cretaceous Extinction
Whether pterosaurs like Khulsanurus were still diverse in the latest Cretaceous or in decline is debated. The extinction of pterosaurs — and the role of the end-Cretaceous extinction event — is key to understanding the demise of flying reptiles.
The diversity of pterosaurs in the latest Cretaceous of Asia — and their ecological relationships with birds — is still being understood.
What We Still Do Not Know About Khulsanurus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Wingspan: Moderate-sized pterosaur.
- Diet: Likely fish or small prey.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Khulsanurus is a genus of alvarezsaurid dinosaur that lived in East Asia during the late Cretaceous.
Further reading
- The second taxon of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Khulsan locality in Gobi Desert, Mongolia. - Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology. in press: 1–12.. - A. O. Averianov & A. V. Lopatin - 2021.
