Alamodactylus

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Alamodactylus
Temporal range:
Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea
Clade:
Nyctosauromorpha
Genus: Alamodactylus
Andres & Myers, 2013
Type species
Alamodactylus byrdi
Andres & Myers, 2013

Alamodactylus is an

pteranodontoid pterosaur known from the Late Cretaceous of Texas, southern United States. It contains a single species, Alamodactylus byrdi.[1]

Discovery

Alamodactylus is known solely from its

period, about 89.8–88 million years ago.[1]

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

sister taxon relationship with Pteranodontoidea warranted the erection of a new genus and species for this material. Below is a cladogram based on the study upheld by Andres and Myers in 2013, showing the phylogenetic placement of A. byrdi within the clade Pteranodontia.[1]

 Pteranodontia 
 Nyctosauridae 

Muzquizopteryx coahuilensis

"Nyctosaurus" lamegoi

Nyctosaurus gracilis

Alamodactylus byrdi

 Pteranodontoidea 

Pteranodon longiceps

Pteranodon sternbergi

 Istiodactylidae 

Longchengpterus zhaoi

Nurhachius ignaciobritoi

Liaoxipterus brachyognathus

Istiodactylus latidens

Istiodactylus sinensis

Lonchodectes compressirostris

Aetodactylus halli

Cearadactylus atrox

Brasileodactylus araripensis

In 2018, a phylogenetic analysis published by Nicholas Longrich and colleagues recovered Alamodactylus within the family

basalmost position, contrary to the analysis by Andres and Myers above.[3][4]

Ornithocheiroidea

Azhdarchoidea

Piksi barbarulna

 Pteranodontoidea 

Ornithocheiromorpha

 Pteranodontia 
Pteranodontidae

Pteranodon sternbergi

Pteranodon longiceps

Tethydraco regalis

Nyctosauridae

Alamodactylus byrdi

Volgadraco bogolubovi

Cretornis hlavaci

Alcione elainus

Simurghia robusta

Muzquizopteryx coahuilensis

Barbaridactylus grandis

Nyctosaurus lamegoi

Nyctosaurus nanus

Nyctosaurus gracilis

See also

References

  1. ^
    S2CID 84617119
    .
  2. ^ Myers, T.S., 2010, "Earliest occurrence of the Pteranodontidae (Archosauria: Pterosauria) in North America: New material from the Austin Group of Texas", Journal of Paleontology 84(6): 1071–1081
  3. PMID 24768054
    .