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A large pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Two Medicine Formation (Campanian) of Montana

1984; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 4; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/02724634.1984.10012027

1937-2809

Kevin Padian,

Evolution and Paleontology Studies

ABSTRACT Evidence of a large pterodactyloid pterosaur in the Two Medicine Formation (Campanian) near Choteau, Montana, is provided by a superbly preserved left distal carpal and an assortment of long bone fragments diagnostic of pterodactyloids. The size of the animal represented by the material is estimated at the lower range of 25 to 30 ft (7.5–9.0 m) in wing-span, based on comparison with more complete specimens of Pteranodon and Quetzalcoatlus, two large Cretaceous pterodactyloids. These two genera can be differentiated morphologically, but no characters link the new find diagnostically with either genus. This is probably the second largest pterosaur yet known of Campanian age; its size is intermediate between the largest Pteranodon and Quetzalcoatlus northropi. Diagnosis of a new family, Titanopterygiidae, is made on the basis of cervical form and proportions; this family is differentiated from the Pteranodontidae, which is also newly diagnosed in a strict sense.