Gegepterus

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Gegepterus
Temporal range:
Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea
Family: Ctenochasmatidae
Tribe:
Pterodaustrini
Genus: Gegepterus
Wang et al., 2007
Type species
Gegepterus changi
Wang et al., 2007

Gegepterus is a

China
. Only one species is known, G. changi.

History and etymology

The genus was named in 2007 by Wang Xiaolin, Alexander Kellner, Zhou Zhonge and Diogenes de Almeida Campos. The type species is Gegepterus changi. The generic name is derived from Manchu ge ge, the title of a princess, in reference to the dainty gracility of the specimen, and a Latinized Greek pteron, "wing". The specific name honors female paleontologist Chang Meemann, who over the years established a cordial relationship between the Chinese and Brazilian authors.[1] In 2008 Wang emended the epithet to changae,[2] but such changes are no longer allowed by the ICZN.

It is known from two specimens. The first is

gastralia ("belly ribs"), shoulder girdle and hindlimb remains, along with dark soft tissue remains near the skull and gastralia and in the orbit; unfortunately, the soft tissue remains show no structure except for some small, unbranched fibers at the back of the head. The jaws are very elongated; the snout is flat and concave on top, with a low and thin crest. The forehead slightly projects to the front. The cervicals are elongated.[1]

In 2011, a second, smaller specimen was described, IVPP V 11972, which increased the known skeletal elements and showed a more extensive covering of hair-like structures.[3]

Classification

The authors assigned Gegepterus to the

teeth, about 150 in total. This is the first uncontroversial report of the Ctenochasmatidae from the Yixian Formation, as the fossils of other assumed ctenochasmatids have not preserved the dentition. It was at first suspected to be the juvenile of some known species.[1]

Below is

 Ctenochasmatidae 
 
Ctenochasmatinae
 

Ctenochasma

 
Pterodaustrini
 

Pterodaustro guinazui

Eosipterus yangi

Beipiaopterus chenianus

Gegepterus changi

Kepodactylus insperatus

Elanodactylus prolatus

 
Moganopterinae
 

Feilongus youngi

Moganopterus zhuiana

 
Gnathosaurinae
 

Huanhepterus quingyangensis

Plataleorhynchus streptophorodon

Gnathosaurus subulatus

Gnathosaurus macrurus

See also

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ Wang X., 2008, "Order Pterosauria" In: Li J., Wu X., Zhnag F. eds. Chinese Fossil Reptiles and their Kin 2nd edition, Science Press, Beijing p. 215-234
  3. ^ Jiang Shun-Xing & Wang Xiao-Lin, 2011, "Important features of Gegepterus changae (Pterosauria: Archaeopterodactyloidea, Ctenochasmatidae) from a new specimen", Vertebrata PalAsiatica 49(2): 172-184 http://www.ivpp.cas.cn/cbw/gjzdwxb/xbwzxz/201105/P020110530510419201105.pdf
  4. PMID 24768054
    .