Tapejara wellnhoferifor the Peirópolis Museum in Uberaba, MG, Brazil

Ultra-light polystyrene reconstruction of a pterosaur skeleton

Helder da Rocha August 2013

Contents

Dimensions, components, materials 3

Specimens used as sources 6

Design, scaling and construction of individual bones 10

Construction details and techniques 48

Assembly and installation 51

About the museum & the artist 55

Acknowledgements 57

Publications used as sources 58

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DimensionsThis replica is 25% larger than the specimen used as a size reference, IMCF 1061 (Iwaki Museum, Japan), which is a juvenile specimen.

Dimensions of assembled pterosaur in flight position

Width (assembled wingspan): 180 cm

Length (beak to toetip): 100 cm

Height (skull height): 25 cm

Other dimensions

Wingspan (wing bones and carpals stacked in line): 200 cm

Length of body (beak to tail): 70 cm

Length of spine (atlas to tail): 50 cm

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Components and weightAll the parts were made from Extruded Polystyrene (XPS): 2mm sheets for most of the bones, and 20mm blocks for small bones and bone ends

Parts

Total number of individual parts created and used: 184

Fused with epoxy: 6 (quadratojugal, lacrimal, postorbital)

Total number of separate pieces used for assembly of final skeleton (attached with silicone rubber): 178

Total weight

Individual bones: 300 g

After assembly (with silicone rubber): 350 g (estimated)

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Materials used1. XPS – Extruded Polystyrene. Mostly 2 mm and 30 mm sheets with densities of 25 to 45 g/m3 for constructing the bones (Depron, Pluma)

2. Foam glue (Polyvinyl acetate diluted in alcohol) (Acrilex, Corfix, Scotch)

3. Acrylic polymer emulsion (Modeling paste) (Acrilex or Corfix)

4. Used coffee powder for staining

5. Liquid epoxy resin (Bisfenol A) for protective coating (Sicomin, ACE or Redelease)

6. Quick dry transparent epoxy glue (Bisfenol F) for pasting (Loctite, Scotch or Araldite)

7. 5mm rubber tube for the medulla.

8. Nylon fishing line (35kg resistance) (0.8mm) for hanging.

9. General purpose transparent acetic silicone rubber (Polystic)

10. Metal pins (for connecting bones). XPS

XPS densities

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Sources: specimens1. SMNK PAL 1137 Tapejara wellnhoferi (Germany)

Used as a source for the metatarsals, tibiotarsi, femora, radii, ulnae, humeri, carpals, finger nails, sternum, pelvic girdle, neurocranium, and as a first prototype of the cervical and dorsal vertebrae (later improved with data from IMCF 1061).

!2. AMNH 24440 Tapejara wellnhoferi (United States)

Used for the first skull prototype, the lacrimal bone, post-orbital, rostrum and crest, and for scaling the cervical vertebrae.

osseous labyrinth is well defined, leaving a deep depression

on the endocast around the floccular lobes. The preserva-tion of a small portion of the lateral semicircular canal

suggests that this structure would have completely sur-

rounded the flocculus.

Quadrate

The right quadrate is complete but lies unfused to the other

elements of the skull. The bone is formed by two branches,orientated dorsoventrally and mediolaterally, and con-

nected by a thin diagonal laminae of bone to give the

element an L-shaped appearance in its posterior aspect(Fig. 2; plate 3). The dorsoventrally directed branch is 2.4

times the length of the horizontal branch; the dorsal ter-

mination of the former being smooth and well rounded inposterior view and preserving an oval shaped cross section.

The ventrolateral margin of the bone forms the articular

facet for the mandible where a pronounced sulcus runs inan anteromedial direction. A left quadrate of a comparable

size to that described above is also present in the concretion

but the vertical branch is broken only just dorsal to its base.

Mandible

The mandible is edentulous and preserves a short sym-physis only 44 mm in length, formed by the completely

co-ossified contralateral rami. The dorsal face of the

symphysis is transversely concave and is directed antero-ventrally at an angle of 18!, starting at a point 45 mm

posterior of the rostral tip (Fig. 2; plate 4B). The ventral

margin is almost straight but forms a sagittal crest reachingits maximum depth at the symphysis. In its dorsal aspect

the bone appears as an elongate triangle, three times as

long as it is wide (Fig. 2; plate 4) while the posteriorsection containing the articular facet is missing.

Cervical vertebrae

Four procoelous vertebra, identified as elements of the

cervical series, are observed in various states of preserva-tion (Fig. 4). Two of these are attributed to the middle

cervical column (Fig. 4f–o) while a third is identified as the

7th cervical. The remaining element represents the isolatedaxis (Fig. 4a–e).

Fig. 4 Cervical elements of Tapejara wellnhoferi, SMNK PAL 1137,where: A–E axis in lateral (A), anterior (B), posterior (C), dorsal(D) and ventral view (E); F–J cervical vertebra in lateral (F), anterior(G), posterior (H), dorsal (I) and ventral view (J); K–O, cervicalvertebra in lateral (K), anterior (L), posterior (M), dorsal (N) and

ventral view (O); P–T, 7th cervical vertebra in lateral (P), anterior(Q), posterior (R), dorsal (S) and ventral view (T). f foramen, ncneural canal, ns neural spine, pe postexapophysis, pre preexapoph-ysis, pz postzygapophysis, prz prezygapophysis, vc vertebral condyle

K. Eck et al.

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Sources: specimens3. IMCF 1061 Tapejara wellnhoferi

Used as the main source for the rostrum, mandible, quadrate, wing phalanges 1 to 3, humeri, pteroids, occipital bone, neurocranium, cervical vertebrae (second prototype), dorsal vertebrae (second prototype).

!4. MN 6595-V Tapejara wellnhoferi (holotype)

Used for reviewing the skull proportions.(These images are protected by

copyright and I do not have authorization to show them in

this presentation)

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Sources: specimens5. SMNK PAL 3986 Tapejara wellnhoferi.

Used for scaling wing bones against the mandible.

!6. MCT-1500-R Tapejara wellnhoferi.

Used for a first attempt at making the internal cranium and occipital bone (I later replaced it with data from IMCF 1061).

!7. SMNK PAL 3985 Tapejara wellnhoferi.

Used for scaling the size of the sternum agains the humerus.

!8. MN 6588-V Tapejaridae.

Used as a source for the pre-pubis.

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Sources: specimens9. IMCF 1502 Tupuxuara leonardii

Used as a source for the fourth wing phalanx and as a guide for the scapulocoracoid (later replaced with better data from IMCF 1061); this specimen was also used as an initial guide to the palate.

!10. NSM-PV 19892 Anhanguera piscator

Used a source for the caudal vertebrae.

!11. YPM 2546 Pteranodon longiceps

Used as a source for the shape of the sternal ribs, and as a guide to the general aspect of the sacrum, fingers and toes.

!12. Undescribed thalassodromid.

Images which were used to make the pelvic girdle in Tupuxuara were used as a source to for the general aspect of the sacrum.

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ScalingReplica is 25% larger than reference size of young individual

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Bone constructionFully documented at http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/imaginary-pterosaur-7-finished/

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SMNK PAL 1137 limestone slabContains bones of two (or more) pterosaurs (from Eck et al 2011)

Also used as one of the sources to scale the bones proportionally

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SMNK PAL 1137 limestone slabApproximate reconstruction (using bones of one pterosaur)

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Skull (5 parts, 90g)

1. Frontal skull (1 part - rostrum/palate/occipital + 6 fused bones)

fused with epoxy: 2 quadratojugal + 2 lacrimal + 2 postorbital

2. Neurocranium (1 part)

3. Mandible (1 part)

4. Quadrates (2 parts)

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Initial work on the skull

2mm sheets of XPS

Prototype based on incomplete photos of Iwaki specimen

Projections based on drawings of the AMNH specimen (from Wellnhofer & Kellner 1991, The skull of Tapejara wellnhoferi…)

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Rostrum, crest, palateMostly based on AMNH 24440

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Frontal skull: final32.5 x 18.5 x 6.5 cm & 42 g

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/tapejara-skull-part-3-neurocranium-quadrate-lacrimal/

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Mandible

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/tapejara-skull-part-2-mandible-and-crest/

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Mandible: final19 x 6 x 4.5 cm &10 g

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Neurocranium version 1replica of SMNK PAL 1137

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/unfinished-tapejara-skull/

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Neurocranium version 2 beyond SMNK PAL 1137

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/tapejaras-neurocranium-revisited/

Improved with ICMF 1061 sources

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Neurocranium: final15.5 x 7 x 6 cm & 35 g

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Quadrates7 x 2.5 cm & < 3 g (both)

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Skull assembly

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Spine (31 parts, 85g)

1. Atlas/axis cervical (1 part) 2.3 x 2.5 x 2.9 cm, 3 g

2. Cervicals 3 to 7 (5 parts) 4.7 x 2.9 x 2.7 cm (avg) , 5 g (each), 25 g (all)

3. Cervicals 8 and 9 (2 parts) 2.3 x 3.6 x 2.9 cm (avg), 3 g (each), 6 g (both)

4. Dorsal vertebrae (12 parts) 1.5 x 4.2 x 3.5 cm (avg), 3 g (each), 35 g (all)

5. Sacrum (1 part) 9 x 4.6 x 3.5 cm, 12 g

6. Caudal vertebrae (10 parts) 9 cm (full tail), < 3 g (all)

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Cervical vertebrae

Sources: 4 specimens (SMNK, IMCF Tapejara and Tupuxuara, AMNH)

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Cervical vertebrae

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/tapejara-cervical-vertebrae/

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Dorsal vertebrae

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Dorsal vertebrae

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/tapejara-the-notarium-thoracic-vertebrae/

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Sacrum http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/tapejara-pelvic-girdle/

Based on Thalassodromid sources (no Tapejara source available)

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TailFrom Anhanguera piscator (Kellner & Tomida 2000) http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/tapejara-caudal-vertebrae/

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Wings and fingers (48 parts, 60g)

Humerus (2 parts), 11 cm, 10 g (both)

Radius (2 parts), 15 cm, 7 g (both)

Ulna (2 parts), 15 cm, 6 g (both)

Wing metacarpal (2 parts), 14 cm, 8 g (both)

Carpals and syncarpals (8 parts)

Prox. syncarpal (2), 2.3 x 1.8 x 1 cm, < 2 g (both)

Distal syncarpal (2), 2.3 x 1.8 x 1 cm, < 2 g (both)

Medial carpal (2), 1.3 x 1 x 0.8 cm, < 2 g (both)

Pteroid (2), 7 cm, < 2 g (both)

Wing (8 parts)

Phalanx 1 (2) 21 cm 6 g (both)

Phalanx 2 (2) 17 cm 4 g (both)

Phalanx 3 (2) 14 cm 3 g (both)

Phalanx 4 (2) 9 cm 2 g (both)

Fingers (24 parts)

Metacarpals (6), 13.5 cm, < 3 g (all)

Phalanges (12), 2.5, 2/1.8, 2.1/0.8/1.6 cm, 5 g (all)

Fingernails (6), 1.8 x 1.1 x 0.3 cm (avg), < 3 g (all)

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Humeri

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-arm-bones-humeri-radii-ulnae/

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Radii & ulnae

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-arm-bones-humeri-radii-ulnae/

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Wing metacarpal

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-wings/

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Wing phalanges

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-wings/

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Carpals and pteroid

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/tapejara-carpals-and-pteroid/

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Fingers

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/tapejaras-hands-and-feet/

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Pelvic girdle (15 parts, 15 g)

Ilium & preacetabular process (2 parts), 8 cm, 2 g (both)

Ischium (2 parts), 2.8 x 2.5 cm, 3 g (both)

Pubis (2 parts), 3 x 2.5 cm, 2 g (both)

Postacetabular process (2 parts), 3.5 x 2.3 cm, 3 g (both)

Pre-pubis (2 parts), 4.5 x 2.2 cm, 2 g (both)

Gastralia (5 parts), 4.2 x 2.5 cm, 5 g (all) - 4 not used

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Pelvic bones

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-pelvis-and-legs/ http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/tapejara-abdominal-bones/

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Pelvic girdle

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/tapejara-pelvic-girdle/

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Pectoral girdle (45 parts, 35g)

Sternum (1 part), 8.3 x 6.2 x 2 cm, 5 g

Scapula (2 parts), 8 cm, 3 g (both)

Coracoid (2 parts), 6.7 cm, 3 g (both)

Ribs (22 parts), 3.5 to 6.5 cm (curved), 20 g (all)

Sternal ribs (10 parts), 1.7 to 4.5 cm, 5 g (all)

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Shoulders and chest

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/tapejara-shoulders-and-chest/

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Pectoral girdle

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/tapejara-pectoral-girdle/

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Legs and feet (46 parts, 15g)

Femur (2 parts) 12.5 cm 5 g (both)

Tibiotarsus (2 parts) 1 x 7.5 cm 5 g (both)

Distal tarsals (4 parts) 1 x 0.5 x 0.5 cm 1 g (all)

Metatarsals (8 parts) 4.2, 4.4, 3.8, 3.5 (cm) < 2 g (all)

Fifth toe (2 parts) 1.2 cm < 1 g (both)

Toe phalanges (20 parts) 2, 1.3/1.8, 1.7/0.6/1.6, 2/0.5/0.5/1.3(cm) < 3 g (all)

Toenails (8 parts) 1.7 x 0,7 x 0.2 cm < 2 g (all)

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Legs

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-pelvis-and-legs/

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Feet

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/tapejaras-hands-and-feet/

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Working with XPSFolding

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Melting, adding texture and shaping with fire

Tupandactylus imperator

Tupuxuara leonardii

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Texture and stainsAcrylic polymer emulsion adheres to coarse XPS (treated with fire)

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Used coffee powder stains

Tupuxuara leonardii

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Protective coatingLiquid epoxy and matte varnish

Neurocranium after coating with liquid epoxy and matte varnish

Parts drying after coating with liquid epoxy

"Shiny" parts after liquid epoxy is dry

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Assembly

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Assembly: lateral view

Flying position

Wings slightly curved

Flying downwards

Skeleton could be suspended with only four points of support: head(1), back(2) and first wing phalanges(3,4).

I used 3 more points to improve distribution of weight, lift the back(5) and control the shape of the wings(6,7).

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

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Assembly: ventral view Flying position

Support is made of aluminum antenna cylinders 2m x 1m

More than 80% of the weight is distributed among points 1, 2 and 5

1

2

3 4

567

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Installation

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Peirópolis Museum (Complexo Científico Cultural de Peirópolis)

Uberaba, MG, Brazil

Jose Gustavo Abreu Murta

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Other pterosaurs by Helder da Rocha

Tupuxuara

Anhanguera

Guidraco

Tupandactylus

Caupedactylus

Anhanguera

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AcknowledgementsThis project was commissioned by the Peirópolis Cultural and Scientific Complex, which includes the museum where this replica is currently in display. I would like to thank professor Vicente Antunes, the director of the institution, for this opportunity, the staff at the museum, and the researchers Thiago Marinho and Agustin Martinelli who first contacted me, as well as the paleoartist Rodolfo Nogueira for introducing me to professor Vicente (who told him about his wish to have a pterosaur in the museum.)

Although I made all the bones by myself, I had help from many people who kindly provided me with photographic sources, articles and paleontological advice: Felipe Pinheiro, Hebert Bruno Campos, and specially Brian Andres who gave me access to many high-resolution photographs and shared his data and scientific advice that were critical to the accuracy of this replica.

Installing the pterosaur was a challenging and dangerous task, but paleontologist Agustin Martinelli bravely climbed and crawled under the thin aluminum ceiling of the museum six metres above to install the structure which currently suspends the pterosaur in a flying position.

Finally I must thank the family who hosted me in Uberaba: Alípio, Regis, Ludmila and Lucia (and their many cats) for their fantastic hospitality, for dedicating time and effort to make my stay as comfortable as possible, for driving me to Peiropolis and back (40km!) and even letting me occupy their kitchen table during three days, turning it into a pterosaur assembly lab!

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Sources: publications1. Kellner, A. W. A. (1989). A new edentate pterosaur of the Lower Cretaceous from the Araripe Basin, Northeast Brazil. Anais de Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 61, 439–446.

2. Eck, K., Elgin, R.A. and Frey, E. (2011). On the osteology of Tapejara wellnhoferi KELLNER 1989 and the first occurrence of a multiple specimen assemblage from the Santana Formation, Araripe Basin, NE-Brazil. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology

3. Wellnhofer P, Kellner A. W. A (1991) The skull of Tapejara wellnhoferi Kellner (Reptilia, Pterosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation of the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil. Mitt. Bayer. Staatsslg Paläont hist Geol 31: 89–106.

4. Elgin R. and Campos H. B. N. (2011). A new specimen of the azhdarchoid pterosaur Tapejara wellnhoferi. Hist Biol DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2011.613467.

5. Kellner, A.W.A. (1996) . Description of the braincase of two Early Cretaceous pterosaurs (Pterodactyloidea) from Brazil. American Museum Novitates vol. 3168 , p. 1 – 34

6. Kellner, A.W. A. (2004). The ankle structure of two pterodactyloid pterosaurs from the Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Brazil. Bulletin AMNH 285: 25-35.

7. Witton. M. (2013). Pterosaurs. Princeton University Press.

8. Wellnhofer, P. (1991) Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs. Crescent Press.

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Sources: publications9. Sayão J. M., Kellner A. W. A. (2006) Novo esqueleto parcial de pterossauro (Pterodactyloidea, Tapejaridae) do Membro Crato (Aptiano), Formação Santana, Bacia do Araripe, nordeste do Brasil. Estudos Geológicos 16, 16–40.

10. Kellner A. W. A. (2004) New information on the Tapejaridae (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) and discussion of the relationships of this clade. Ameghiniana 41: 521–534.

11. Kellner A. W. A. and Tomida Y. (2000). Description of a new species of Anhangueridae (Pterodactyloidea) with comments on the pterosaur fauna from the Santana Formation (Aptian-Albian), northeastern Brazil. National Science Museum Monograph 17:1-135

12. O. Kuhn and P. Wellnhofer. (1978). Handbuch der Palaoherpetologie. Teil 19: Pterosauria

13. Claessens LPAM, O’Connor PM, Unwin DM (2009) Respiratory Evolution Facilitated the Origin of Pterosaur Flight and Aerial Gigantism. PLoS ONE 4(2): e4497. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004497

14. Frey, E. Buchy, M-C., Martill, D. (2003) Middle- and bottom-decker Cretaceous pterosaurs: unique designs in active flying vertebrates. In Buffetaut, E. & Mazin, J- M, Evolution and Paleobiology of Pterosaurs. Geological Society, London.

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helder.darocha@gmail.com  +55  11  992  910  567

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