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Azhdarchidae

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Azhdarchids
Temporal range:
Cretaceous, 92–66 Ma Possible Early Cretaceous record[1]
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
Synonyms
  • "Titanopterygiidae"
    Padian, 1984 (preoccupied)

Azhdarchidae (from the Persian word azhdar, اژدر, a dragon-like creature in Persian mythology) is a family of pterosaurs known primarily from the Late Cretaceous Period, though an isolated vertebra apparently from an azhdarchid is known from the Early Cretaceous as well (late Berriasian age, about 140 million years ago).[1] Azhdarchids are mainly known for including some of the largest flying animals discovered, but smaller cat-size members have also been found.[2] Originally considered a sub-family of Pteranodontidae, Nesov (1984)[3] named the Azhdarchinae to include the pterosaurs Azhdarcho, Quetzalcoatlus, and Titanopteryx (now known as Arambourgiania). They were among the last known surviving members of the pterosaurs, and were a rather successful group with a worldwide distribution. Previously it was thought that by the end of the Cretaceous, most pterosaur families except for the Azhdarchidae disappeared from the fossil record,[4] but recent studies indicate a wealth of pterosaurian fauna, including pteranodontids, nyctosaurids, tapejarids and several indeterminate forms.[5]

Description

[edit]
Hatzegopteryx (A-B) compared with Arambourgiania (C) and Quetzalcoatlus (D-E). This illustrates the difference between the "blunt-beaked" azhdarchids and the "slender-beaked" forms
Reconstructed feeding posture of an azhdarchid with sagittally (longitudinally) aligned limbs

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. There are two major types of azhdarchid morphologies: the "blunt-beaked" forms with shorter and deeper bills and the "slender-beaked" forms with longer and thinner jaws.[6]

It had been suggested azhdarchids were skimmers,[3][7] 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 and ground hornbills.[8][9][10][11][12] Most large azhdarchids probably fed on small prey, including hatchling and small dinosaurs; in an unusual modification of the azhdarchid bodyplan, the robust Hatzegopteryx may have tackled larger prey as the apex predator in its ecosystem.[13] In another departure from typical azhdarchid lifestyles, the jaw of Alanqa may possibly be an adaptation to crushing shellfish and other hard foodstuffs.[14]

Azhdarchids are generally medium- to large-sized pterosaurs, with the largest achieving wingspans of 10–12 metres (33–39 ft),[15] but several small-sized species have recently been discovered.[16][17] Another azhdarchid that is currently unnamed, recently discovered in Transylvania, may be the largest representative of the family thus far discovered. This unnamed specimen (nicknamed "Dracula" by paleontologists), currently on display in the Altmühltal Dinosaur Museum in Bavaria is estimated to have a wingspan of 12–20 m (39–66 ft), although similarities to the contemporary azhdarchid Hatzegopteryx have also been noted.[18]

Systematics

[edit]

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), but this classification is largely obsolete. Currently it is widely agreed that azhdarchids were closely related to pterosaurs such as chaoyangopterids, thalassodromids, and tapejarids, all of which belong to the superfamily Azhdarchoidea.[19][20][21][22][23][24]

Phylogeny

[edit]

Two of the most complete cladograms that include the family Azhdarchidae are presented below. The first one is by Brian Andres in 2021, in which Azhdarchidae was found to be the sister taxon to Montanazhdarcho within the clade Azhdarchiformes. Within Azhdarchidae, two different subfamilies were recovered, the Azhdarchinae and the Quetzalcoatlinae. The former contains azhdarchids closer related to Azhdarcho and are smaller in size, while the latter contains azhdarchids closer to Quetzalcoatlus and are much larger in size.[20] The second cladogram is by Xuanyu Zhou and colleagues in 2024,[22] which is based on the phylogenetic analysis by Rodrigo Pêgas in the same year.[21] In this study, Azhdarchidae was recovered as the sister taxon to the family Alanqidae within the clade Azhdarchiformes. The subfamily Quetzalcoatlinae comprised more azhdarchid genera within it, while the subfamily Azhdarchinae was not recovered. Various azhdarchids found within the Quetzalcoatlinae by Andres in 2021 have been found outside said subfamily in this study. These include Aralazhdarcho, Eurazhdarcho, Wellnhopterus, and Phosphatodraco, which together form a subgroup, as well as Zhejiangopterus, Mistralazhdarcho, and Aerotitan, which form another subgroup. Azhdarcho is recovered as the sister taxon to Quetzalcoatlinae, while Albadraco was found within Quetzalcoatlinae instead of Azhdarchinae.[22]

Life reconstructions of the azhdarchids Hatzegopteryx (top), Quetzalcoatlus (middle), and Arambourgiania (bottom) feeding on the ground

Former and possible azhdarchid genera

[edit]

There have been many pterosaur genera that were once assigned to the Azhdarchidae, but have since been reassigned to other pterosaur groups. Alanqa and Argentinadraco, for example, found to be azhdarchids in at least one study before,[19][27] have now been recovered as either forming their own family, the Alanqidae,[28][23][21][22] or within the family Thalassodromidae.[24][20] The placement of Alanqa, however, has been further complicated since a 2023 study has again found it within Azhdarchidae.[29] The genus Bakonydraco, also initially classified as an azhdarchid,[19] has now been found as a tapejarid in many recent studies.[23][21][22] Volgadraco and Bogolubovia, both assigned to this family in at least one study,[19][30] have now been recovered as a pteranodontians.[31][32] The pterosaur Montanazhdarcho has also been reclassified,[33] with recent studies now considering it as either an alanqid,[23] or as a basal azhdarchiform.[24][20]

The genus Navajodactylus was tentatively assigned to this family,[34] but its status has been questioned.[6] The pterosaur Tethydraco has been suggested to have been an azhdarchid in one study,[35] but this assignment has not been found in other analyses, with most finding it as a pteranodontian.[31][24][20]

References

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  • Nesov, L.A. (1991). "Giant flying reptiles of the family Azhdarchidae: 11. Environment, sedirnentological conditions and preservation of remains". Bulletin of Leningrad University, Series 7, Geology and Geography (in Russian). 3 (21): 16–24.
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