Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

First evidence of azhdarchid pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Hungary

Attila Ősi, David B. Weishampel, and Coralia M. Jianu

Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 50 (4), 2005: 777-787

New remains of an azhdarchid pterosaur were discovered from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Csehbánya Formation at the Iharkút vertebrate locality in the Bakony Mountains, western Hungary. Among the isolated bones, consisting principally of 21 symphyseal jaw fragments, four cervical vertebrae, a right radius, and some fragmentary limb bones, is a complete articulated mandible that represents one of the best-preserved mandibular material of any presently known azhdarchid pterosaur. The complete edentulous jaw, referred to Bakonydraco galaczi gen. et sp. nov. posesses several features diagnostic for azhdarchids which prove that Bakonydraco belongs to this group. The cervical vertebrae exhibit azhdarchid features and consequently are referred to as Azhdarchidae indet. The discovery of these fossils helps to understand the construction of the azhdarchid mandible and provides new insight for studying the feeding style of the edentulous azhdarchid pterosaurs.

Key words: Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae, mandible, cervical vertebrae, Cretaceous, Hungary.

Attila Ősi [hungaros@freemail.hu], Department of Palaeontology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1117, Hungary; David B. Weishampel [dweisham@mail.jhmi.edu], Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 21205, USA; Coralia M. Jianu [coralia.jianu@xnet.ro], Muzeul Civilizaţiei Dacice şi Romane Deva, Deva, 2700, Romania.


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