Wukongopterus: Research Database
Reptilia (Pterosauria) · Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous · Asia — China
Research Note: Wukongopterus was a pterosaur from the Jurassic/Cretaceous of China — an important taxon for understanding pterosaur diversity and evolution in Asia during the Mesozoic.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labita & Martill 2020: New data on pterosaur diversity from the Cretaceous of China Cretaceous Research | Confirmed | A | 2020 | Fossil | Labita & Martill, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
Martill 2010: Additional data on pterosaurs from the Cretaceous of China Cretaceous Research | Confirmed | B | 2010 | Fossil | Martill, Cretaceous Research | Paleobiology |
What We Still Do Not Know About Wukongopterus
- Complete skeletal morphology.
- Wingspan estimates.
- Diet and ecology.
- Social behavior.
In Depth
Wukongopterus was a basal pterosaur and the examination of the type specimen has revealed that it may have broken its left tibia when alive. The specimen also reveals the possible presence of a membrane between the hind legs that was common to basal pterosaurs called the uropatagium. For more information on the uropatagium, refer to the article ‘Pterosaurs – An Overview‘.
Further Reading
Further reading- An unusual long-tailed pterosaur with elongated neck from western Liaoning of China. – Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ci�ncias. 81 (4): 793–812. – X. Wang, A. W. A. Kellner, S. Jiang & X. Meng – 2009.
