Dorygnathus sp. SMNS 55886 (Padian 2009) Early Jurassic ~190 mya ~8 cm skull length was derived from a sister to Cacibupteryx and Fenghuangopterus and phylogenetically preceded the R156 specimen of Dorygnathus.
Distinct from Cacibupteryx, the skull of SMNS 55886 had a taller antoribital fenestra, as in Fenghuangopterus, and a larger naris that was slightly dorsal to it. The posterior skull did not descend. The orbit long axis leaned posteriorly. The mandible was more robust.
Distinct from Fenghuangopterus, the cervicals were more robust.
The coracoid had an expanded ventral process. The ulna+radius was shorter.
The tibia was shorter facilitating quadrupedal locomotion. The pedal digits were longer and the penultimate phalanges were longer. Phalanges p3.2, p4.2 and p4.3 were reduced. Pedal digit V was shorter with p5.1 extending only to the middle of p4.1.
See the pterosaur family tree here. |
