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A large pteranodontid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Eastern Europe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2020

Alexander O Averianov Open the ORCID record for Alexander O Averianov [Opens in a new window]  and
Maxim S Arkhangelsky
Alexander O Averianov*
Affiliation:
Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, 199034Saint Petersburg, Russia
Maxim S Arkhangelsky
Affiliation:
Department of Geoecology and Engineering Geology, Saratov State Technical University, Politekhnicheskaya str. 77, 410054Saratov, Russia Department of General Geology and Minerals, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str. 83, 410012Saratov, Russia
*
Author for correspondence: Alexander O Averianov, Email: dzharakuduk@mail.ru
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Abstract

The Campanian Beloe Ozero locality within the Rybushka Formation in Saratov Province, Russia, is one of the richest and most diverse Upper Cretaceous pterosaur localities in Europe. It produces identifiable remains of Pteranodontidae indet. and Azhdarchidae indet., as well as bones which can be attributed to either of these groups. The pteranodontid specimens from the Beloe Ozero locality described in this paper include a cervical III, distal scapula, humerus deltopectoral crest, proximal syncarpal, preaxial carpal and complete femur. Based on the femur and proximal syncarpal, the wingspan estimate for the Beloe Ozero pteranodontid varies from 5.2 to 6.5 m. Volgadraco bogolubovi, known from the neighbouring Shyrokii Karamysh locality of the same formation and attributed previously to the Azhdarchidae, is more likely pteranodontid than azhdarchid. The other putative records of the Pteranodontidae in the Late Cretaceous of North America, Europe and Asia are discussed. Pteranodontid pterosaurs had a much wider distribution on the northern continents in the Late Cretaceous than previously thought.

Keywords

PterosauriaPteranodontidaeCampanianRybushka FormationRussia
Type
Original Article
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 158 , Issue 7 , July 2021 , pp. 1143 - 1155
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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