Scaphognathus sp. (Bennett 2004) SMNS 59395 Late Jurassic ~150 mya, was originally considered a juvenile of Scaphognathus crassirostris, no. 109 because it stood only as high as the hips of no. 109. Actually it was a very small adult, the first in a line of even smaller adults in a phylogenetic series (see below) that eventually produced Cycnorhamphus, Haopterus, Pterodactylus and Germanodactylus. SMNS 59395 was derived from a sister to Scaphognathus, no. 109 and phylogenetically preceded the Maxberg specimen, no. 110 and tiny Ornithocephalus.
Distinct from Scaphognathus no. 109, SMNS 59395 had a relatively shorter skull with secondary naris budding off the primary naris. The orbit was relatively larger and the antorbital fenestra was smaller. The cranium was slightly bulbous. The anterior dentary teeth were oriented anteriorly.
The tail was shorter and smaller than in Pterorhynchus or Sordes.
The sternal complex was triangular with swept back lateral processes. It was enlarged to about a third of the torso, but the curved second dorsal rib maintained the plesiomorphic articulation. The humerus was reduced.
The pelvis was gracile. Metatarsals I and II were the longest, compared to Pterorhynchus and Sordes. The pedal digis were longer than the metatarsus. Digit IV was slightly shorter
A triangular tail vane was present with dorsal and ventral lobes.
See the pterosaur family tree here. |
