Alamodactylus
Alamodactylus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Order: | †Pterosauria |
Suborder: | †Pterodactyloidea |
Clade: | † Nyctosauromorpha
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Genus: | †Alamodactylus Andres & Myers, 2013 |
Type species | |
†Alamodactylus byrdi Andres & Myers, 2013
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Alamodactylus is an
Discovery
Alamodactylus is known solely from its
Description
The holotype of Alamodactylus was originally referred to Pteranodontidae by Myers (2010) and tentatively identified as cf. Pteranodon. Myers (2010) noted that the humerus was superficially similar to that of Pteranodon while other similarities were noted with Nyctosaurus, but the holotype being crushed rendered comparison difficult. Andres and Myers (2013) diagnosed Alamodactylus on the basis of unique combination of constricted humerus mid-shaft and D-shaped distal humerus cross-section. This medium-sized pterosaur also has autapomorphic small pneumatic foramen on ventral surface of humerus proximal end, and dorsal nutrient foramen positioned on midline of humerus shaft level with the middle of deltopectoral crest. Additionally, its warped humerus deltopectoral crest thickens proximally.[1]
Phylogeny
As suggested in the original description by Myers (2010), the
Pteranodontia |
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In 2018, a phylogenetic analysis published by Nicholas Longrich and colleagues recovered Alamodactylus within the family
Ornithocheiroidea |
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