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A second specimen of the pterosaur Thapunngaka shawi from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) Toolebuc Formation of North West Queensland, Australia

2023; Elsevier BV; Volume: 154; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105740

1095-998X

Timothy M. Richards, Paul E. Stumkat, Steven W. Salisbury,

Evolution and Paleontology Studies

Herein, we describe a second specimen of Thapunngaka shawi, a large pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) Toolebuc Formation of North West Queensland, Australia. The new specimen (KKF600) consists of the anteriormost portion of an incomplete premaxillary/maxillary rostrum embedded in matrix and a caudal fragment preserving a left portion of the maxillary rostrum. KKF600 shares with the holotype (KKF494) near identical features pertaining to alveolar morphology and patterning, and complementary similarities between the palatal and dentary occlusal surfaces, respectively. Subsequently, we present a revised diagnosis of Thapunngaka shawi. A phylogenetic analysis recovers a clade formed by the genera Thapunngaka, Ferrodraco and Mythunga. The recognition of this pterosaur clade, Mythungini, points to a possible East Gondwanan radiation within Tropeognathinae.