Daohugoupterus Temporal range: Bathonian - Oxfordian , 164  Ma Pre? ? O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	† Pterosauria
Genus:	† Daohugoupterus Cheng et al. , 2015
Species:	† D. delicatus
Binomial name
† Daohugoupterus delicatus Cheng et al. , 2015

Daohugoupterus is a genus of pterosaur from the Middle to Late Jurassic ^[1] Daohugou Beds of the Tiaojishan Formation in Inner Mongolia , China . ^[2]

Discovery and naming [ edit ]

Through field work by Zhou Zhonghe and Li Yan, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at Beijing acquired a pterosaur specimen found at the village of Daohugou near Linglongta . It was prepared by Li Yutong. The specimen is catalogued as IVPP  V12537. It is a partial skeleton with soft tissue impressions, compressed on a plate and counterplate. This specimen includes part of the torso and pectoral girdle , the left humerus (upper arm bone), both coracoids, right scapula, the sternal plate, neck vertebrae , back vertebrae, ribs, and the posterior part of the skull and lower jaws. ^[2]

Daohugoupterus was named and described in 2015 by Cheng Xin, Wang Xiaolin, Jiang Shunxing and Alexander Wilhelm Armin Kellner . The type and only known species is Daohugoupterus delicatus . The generic name combines a reference to Daohugou with a Latinised Greek πτερ?ν, pteron , "wing". The specific name means "delicate" in Latin , in reference to the gracile build. ^[2]

Description [ edit ]

Daohugoupterus is a small pterosaur. The humerus is 41.8 mm (1.65 in) long. ^[2]

Two distinguishing traits were indicated, which were considered possible autapomorphies : the nasal bones deeply invade the frontal bones , and the sternal plate is broad , being 2.5 times wider than it is long. ^[2]

Classification [ edit ]

The short neck vertebrae, presence of cervical ribs, and the form of the humerus with a quadrangular deltopectoral crest indicate that Daohugoupterus was a relatively basal pterosaur, outside of the Pterodactyloidea . It was placed Pterosauria incertae sedis . ^[2]

Paleoecology [ edit ]

Daohugoupterus is a member of the Yanliao Biota , which also includes the pterosaurs Jeholopterus and Pterorhynchus ; Daohugoupterus is the smallest of the three. ^[2]

References [ edit ]