Azhdarchidae: Difference between revisions

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==Description==
==Description==
[[Image:Quetzfeedingwittonnaish2008.png|thumb|left|Artist's reconstruction of foraging ''[[Quetzalcoatlus|Quetzalcoatlus northropi]]'']]
[[Image:Quetzfeedingwittonnaish2008.png|thumb|left|Artist's reconstruction of foraging ''[[Quetzalcoatlus|Quetzalcoatlus northropi]]'']]
Azhdarchids are characterized by their long legs and extremely long necks, made up of elongated neck vertebrae which are round in cross section. Most species of azhdarchids are still known mainly from their distinctive neck bones and not much else. The few azhdarchids that are known from reasonably good skeletons include ''[[Zhejiangopterus]]'' and ''[[Quetzalcoatlus]]''. Azhdarchids are also distinguished by their relatively large heads and long, spear-like jaws. It had been suggested azhdarchids were skimmers,<ref name="nesov1984">Nesov, L. A. (1984). ["[http://www.azhdarcho.com/Art/Paleoart/azhdarch3.htm Upper Cretaceous pterosaurs and birds from Central Asia.]"] ''Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal'', 1984(1), 47-57.</ref><ref name="kellner&langston1996">Kellner, A. W. A., and Langston, W. (1996). "Cranial remains of ''Quetzalcoatlus'' (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae) from Late Cretaceous sediments of Big Bend National Park, Texas." ''Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology'', '''16''', 222-231.</ref> but further research has cast doubt on this idea, demonstrating that azhdarchids lacked the necessary adaptations for a skim-feeding lifestyle, and that they may have led a more terrestrial existence similar to modern [[stork]]s.<ref name="chatterjee&templin2003">Chatterjee, S., and Templin, R. J. (2004). "Posture, locomotion, and paleoecology of pterosaurs." ''Geological Society of America Special Publication'', '''376''', 1-64.</ref><ref name="osietal2005">Ősi, A., Weishampel, D.B., and Jianu, C.M. (2005). "First evidence of azhdarchid pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Hungary." ''Acta Palaeontologica Polonica'', '''50'''(4): 777–787.</ref><ref name="humphriesetal2007">Humphries, S., Bonser, R.H.C., Witton, M.P., and Martill, D.M. (2007). "[http://biology.plosjournals.org/archive/1545-7885/5/8/pdf/10.1371_journal.pbio.0050204-L.pdf Did pterosaurs feed by skimming? Physical modelling and anatomical evaluation of an unusual feeding method.]" ''PLoS Biology'', '''5'''(8): e204.</ref><ref>http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002271</ref>
Azhdarchids are characterized by their long legs and extremely long necks, made up of elongated neck vertebrae which are round in cross section. Most species of azhdarchids are still known mainly from their distinctive neck bones and not much else. The few azhdarchids that are known from reasonably good skeletons include ''[[Zhejiangopterus]]'' and ''[[Quetzalcoatlus]]''. Azhdarchids are also distinguished by their relatively large heads and long, spear-like jaws. It had been suggested azhdarchids were skimmers,<ref name="nesov1984">{{cite journal | last1 = Nesov | first1 = L. A. | year = 1984 | title = Upper Cretaceous pterosaurs and birds from Central Asia. | url = http://www.azhdarcho.com/Art/Paleoart/azhdarch3.htm| journal = Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal | volume = 1984 | issue = 1| pages = 47–57 }}</ref><ref name="kellner&langston1996">{{cite journal | last1 = Kellner | first1 = A. W. A. | last2 = Langston | first2 = W. | year = 1996 | title = Cranial remains of ''Quetzalcoatlus'' (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae) from Late Cretaceous sediments of Big Bend National Park, Texas | url = | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 16 | issue = | pages = 222–231 }}</ref> but further research has cast doubt on this idea, demonstrating that azhdarchids lacked the necessary adaptations for a skim-feeding lifestyle, and that they may have led a more terrestrial existence similar to modern [[stork]]s.<ref name="chatterjee&templin2003">{{cite journal | last1 = Chatterjee | first1 = S. | last2 = Templin | first2 = R. J. | year = 2004 | title = Posture, locomotion, and paleoecology of pterosaurs | url = | journal = Geological Society of America Special Publication | volume = 376 | issue = | pages = 1–64 }}</ref><ref name="osietal2005">{{cite journal | last1 = Ősi | first1 = A. | last2 = Weishampel | first2 = D.B. | last3 = Jianu | first3 = C.M. | year = 2005 | title = First evidence of azhdarchid pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Hungary | url = | journal = Acta Palaeontologica Polonica | volume = 50 | issue = 4| pages = 777–787 }}</ref><ref name="humphriesetal2007">{{cite journal | last1 = Humphries | first1 = S. | last2 = Bonser | first2 = R.H.C. | last3 = Witton | first3 = M.P. | last4 = Martill | first4 = D.M. | year = 2007 | title = Did pterosaurs feed by skimming? Physical modelling and anatomical evaluation of an unusual feeding method | url = http://biology.plosjournals.org/archive/1545-7885/5/8/pdf/10.1371_journal.pbio.0050204-L.pdf | format = PDF | journal = PLoS Biology | volume = 5 | issue = 8| page = e204 }}</ref><ref>http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002271</ref>


==Systematics==
==Systematics==
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* '''Family Azhdarchidae'''
* '''Family Azhdarchidae'''
** ''[[Alanqa]]''<ref name=ibrahimetal2010>Ibrahim, N., Unwin, D.M., Martill, D.M., Baidder, L. and Zouhri, S. (2010). "[http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0010875 A New Pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea: Azhdarchidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco.]" ''PLoS ONE'', '''5'''(5): e10875. {{doi|10.1371/journal.pone.0010875}}</ref>
** ''[[Alanqa]]''<ref name=ibrahimetal2010>{{cite journal | last1 = Ibrahim | first1 = N. | last2 = Unwin | first2 = D.M. | last3 = Martill | first3 = D.M. | last4 = Baidder | first4 = L. | last5 = Zouhri | first5 = S. | year = 2010 | title = A New Pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea: Azhdarchidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco | url = http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0010875 | journal = PLoS ONE | volume = 5 | issue = 5| page = e10875 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0010875 | pmid = 20520782 | pmc=2877115}}</ref>
** ''[[Aralazhdarcho]]''<ref name="averianov2007">Averianov, A.O. (2007). "New records of azhdarchids (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae) from the late Cretaceous of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia." ''Paleontological Journal'', '''41'''(2): 189-197.</ref>
** ''[[Aralazhdarcho]]''<ref name="averianov2007">{{cite journal | last1 = Averianov | first1 = A.O. | year = 2007 | title = New records of azhdarchids (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae) from the late Cretaceous of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia | url = | journal = Paleontological Journal | volume = 41 | issue = 2| pages = 189–197 }}</ref>
** ''[[Arambourgiania]]''
** ''[[Arambourgiania]]''
** ''[[Azhdarcho]]''
** ''[[Azhdarcho]]''
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


* Astibia, H., Buffetaut, E., Buscalioni, A.D., Cappetta, H., Corrall, C., Estes, R., Garcia-Garmilla, F., Jaeger, J.J., Jimenez-Fuentes, E., Loeuff, J. Le, Mazin, J.M., Orue-Etxebarria, X., Pereda-Suberbiola, J., Powell, J.E., Rage, J.C., Rodriguez-Lazaro, J., Sanz, J.L., and Tong, H. (1991). "The fossil vertebrates from Lafio (Basque Country, Spain); new evidence on the composition and affinities of the Late Cretaceous continental fauna of Europe." ''Terra Nova'', '''2''': 460-466.
* {{cite journal | last1 = Astibia | first1 = H. | last2 = Buffetaut | first2 = E. | last3 = Buscalioni | first3 = A.D. | last4 = Cappetta | first4 = H. | last5 = Corrall | first5 = C. | last6 = Estes | first6 = R. | last7 = Garcia-Garmilla | first7 = F. | last8 = -1#Loeuff | first8 = Mazin | last9 = Jaeger | first9 = J.J. ''et al.'' | year = 1991 | title = The fossil vertebrates from Lafio (Basque Country, Spain); new evidence on the composition and affinities of the Late Cretaceous continental fauna of Europe | url = | journal = Terra Nova | volume = 2 | issue = | pages = 460–466 }}
* Bennett, S. C. (2000). "Pterosaur flight: the role of actinofibrils in wing function." ''Historical Biology'', '''14''': 255-284.
* {{cite journal | last1 = Bennett | first1 = S. C. | year = 2000 | title = Pterosaur flight: the role of actinofibrils in wing function | url = | journal = Historical Biology | volume = 14 | issue = | pages = 255–284 }}
* Nesov, L.A. (1990). ["Flying reptiles of the Jurassic and Cretaceous of the USSR and the significance of their remains for the reconstruction of palaeogeographic conditions."] ''Bulletin of Leningrad University, Series 7, Geology and Geography'', '''4'''(28): 3-10 [In Russian].
* {{cite journal | last1 = Nesov | first1 = L.A. | year = 1990 | title = Flying reptiles of the Jurassic and Cretaceous of the USSR and the significance of their remains for the reconstruction of palaeogeographic conditions | url = | journal = Bulletin of Leningrad University, Series 7, Geology and Geography | volume = 4 | issue = 28| pages = 3–10 |language=Russian}}
* Nesov, L.A. (1991). ["Giant flying reptiles of the family Azhdarchidae: 11. Environment, sedirnentological conditions and preservation of remains."] ''Bulletin of Leningrad Universitv Series 7, Geology and Geography'', '''3'''(21), 16-24 [In Russian].
* {{cite journal | last1 = Nesov | first1 = L.A. | year = 1991 | title = Giant flying reptiles of the family Azhdarchidae: 11. Environment, sedirnentological conditions and preservation of remains | url = | journal = Bulletin of Leningrad Universitv Series 7, Geology and Geography | volume = 3 | issue = 21| pages = 16–24 |language=Russian}}


[[Category:Azhdarchoids]]
[[Category:Azhdarchoids]]

Revision as of 16:58, 14 June 2012

Azhdarchids
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, 108–65 Ma Possibly earlier
Reconstructed skeleton of Quetzalcoatlus northropi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: †Pterosauria
Suborder: †Pterodactyloidea
Clade: †Azhdarchiformes
Family: †Azhdarchidae
Nesov, 1984
Type species
†Azhdarcho lancicollis
Nesov, 1984
Genera

See text

Synonyms

"Titanopterygiidae"
Padian, 1984 (preoccupied)

Azhdarchidae (from Ajdarxo, the name of a dragon (Ashdaar) in Persian mythology, derived from the Old-Persian Aži Dahāka) is a family of pterosaurs known primarily from the late Cretaceous Period, though an isolated vertebrae apparently from an azhdarchid is known from the early Cretaceous as well (late Berriasian age, about 140Ma ago).[1] Azhdarchids included some of the largest known flying animals of all time. Originally considered a sub-family of Pteranodontidae, Nesov (1984) named the azhdarchinae to include the pterosaurs Azhdarcho, Quetzalcoatlus, and "Titanopteryx" (now known as Arambourgiania).

Description

Artist's reconstruction of foraging Quetzalcoatlus northropi

Azhdarchids are characterized by their long legs and extremely long necks, made up of elongated neck vertebrae which are round in cross section. Most species of azhdarchids are still known mainly from their distinctive neck bones and not much else. The few azhdarchids that are known from reasonably good skeletons include Zhejiangopterus and Quetzalcoatlus. Azhdarchids are also distinguished by their relatively large heads and long, spear-like jaws. It had been suggested azhdarchids were skimmers,[2][3] but further research has cast doubt on this idea, demonstrating that azhdarchids lacked the necessary adaptations for a skim-feeding lifestyle, and that they may have led a more terrestrial existence similar to modern storks.[4][5][6][7]

Systematics

Azhdarchids were originally classified as close relatives of Pteranodon due to their long, toothless beaks. Others have suggested they were more closely related to the toothy Ctenochasmatids (which include filter-feeders like Ctenochasma and Pterodaustro). Currently it is widely agreed that azhdarchids were closely related to pterosaurs such as Tupuxuara and Tapejara.

Taxonomy

Classification after Unwin 2006, except where noted.[8]

References

  1. ^ Dyke, G., Benton, M., Posmosanu, E. and Naish, D. (2010). "Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) birds and pterosaurs from the Cornet bauxite mine, Romania." Palaeontology, published online before print 15 September 2010. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.00997.x
  2. ^ Nesov, L. A. (1984). "Upper Cretaceous pterosaurs and birds from Central Asia". Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal. 1984 (1): 47–57.
  3. ^ Kellner, A. W. A.; Langston, W. (1996). "Cranial remains of Quetzalcoatlus (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae) from Late Cretaceous sediments of Big Bend National Park, Texas". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 16: 222–231.
  4. ^ Chatterjee, S.; Templin, R. J. (2004). "Posture, locomotion, and paleoecology of pterosaurs". Geological Society of America Special Publication. 376: 1–64.
  5. ^ Ősi, A.; Weishampel, D.B.; Jianu, C.M. (2005). "First evidence of azhdarchid pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Hungary". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 50 (4): 777–787.
  6. ^ Humphries, S.; Bonser, R.H.C.; Witton, M.P.; Martill, D.M. (2007). "Did pterosaurs feed by skimming? Physical modelling and anatomical evaluation of an unusual feeding method" (PDF). PLoS Biology. 5 (8): e204.
  7. ^ http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002271
  8. ^ Unwin, David M. (2006). The Pterosaurs: From Deep Time. New York: Pi Press. p. 273. ISBN 0-13-146308-X.
  9. ^ Ibrahim, N.; Unwin, D.M.; Martill, D.M.; Baidder, L.; Zouhri, S. (2010). "A New Pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea: Azhdarchidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco". PLoS ONE. 5 (5): e10875. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010875. PMC 2877115. PMID 20520782.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  10. ^ Averianov, A.O. (2007). "New records of azhdarchids (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae) from the late Cretaceous of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia". Paleontological Journal. 41 (2): 189–197.
  11. ^ Averianov, A.O. (2008). "A New Late Cretaceous Azhdarchid (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae) from the Volga Region". Paleontological Journal. 42 (6): 634–642. doi:10.1134/S0031030108060099. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Astibia, H.; Buffetaut, E.; Buscalioni, A.D.; Cappetta, H.; Corrall, C.; Estes, R.; Garcia-Garmilla, F.; -1#Loeuff, Mazin; Jaeger, J.J.; et al. (1991). "The fossil vertebrates from Lafio (Basque Country, Spain); new evidence on the composition and affinities of the Late Cretaceous continental fauna of Europe". Terra Nova. 2: 460–466. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |first9= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Bennett, S. C. (2000). "Pterosaur flight: the role of actinofibrils in wing function". Historical Biology. 14: 255–284.
  • Nesov, L.A. (1990). "Flying reptiles of the Jurassic and Cretaceous of the USSR and the significance of their remains for the reconstruction of palaeogeographic conditions". Bulletin of Leningrad University, Series 7, Geology and Geography (in Russian). 4 (28): 3–10.
  • Nesov, L.A. (1991). "Giant flying reptiles of the family Azhdarchidae: 11. Environment, sedirnentological conditions and preservation of remains". Bulletin of Leningrad Universitv Series 7, Geology and Geography (in Russian). 3 (21): 16–24.
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