Lacusovagus magnificens

[Yasmani Ceballos Izquierdo <yceballos@uci.cu>]

Witton, M. P. 2008. A new azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Crato Formation (Lower 
Cretaceous, Aptian?) of Brazil. Palaeontology 51 (6): 1289-1300. 
 
Abstract: A partial pterosaur skull from the Nova Olinda Member of the Crato 
Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Aptian?) represents a new edentulous 
pterodactyloid, Lacusovagus magnificens gen. et sp. nov. The absence of teeth 
and a large nasoantorbital fenestra suggest assignment to Azhdarchoidea, and 
the combination of a particularly short, crestless and shallow rostrum and 
laterally flared jaw margins distinguish it from other azhdarchoid taxa. The 
position of the new form within Azhdarchoidea is problematic: Lacusovagus is 
distinguished from Tapejaridae in its straight, as opposed to ventrally 
displaced, jaw tip and absence of a premaxillary crest; from thalassodromids by 
the absence of a premaxillary crest; and from Azhdarchidae by the short length 
of the rostrum and shallow posterodorsal extension of the premaxilla. 
Lacusovagus shares a shallow, crestless rostrum and a slender posterodorsal 
premaxillary extension with Jiufotang Formation azhdarchoids such as 
Chaoyangopterus and
 Jidapterus. The position of these genera within Azhdarchoidea is 
controversial, but the suite of plesiomorphic and derived azhdarchoid 
characters in each suggests a placement between Tapejaridae and Neoazhdarchia. 
Further research is required, however, to determine the relationships of these 
genera both to each other and to other azhdarchoids. The new taxon elevates the 
faunal similarity found between the roughly contemporaneous Jiufotang and Crato 
formations and continues the pattern of Crato Formation azhdarchoids being much 
larger than those from the Jehol Group. It also has jaws at least 67 and 55 per 
cent longer, respectively, than those of the largest azhdarchoids and 
ornithocheirids from the Crato pterosaur assemblage, making Lacusovagus the 
largest pterosaur known from this unit.
 
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Ing. Yasmani Ceballos Izquierdo    <yceballos@uci.cu <mailto:yceballos@uci.cu> 
>