| Azhdarchidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fossil mount of Quetzalcoatlus northropi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | Pterosauria |
| Family: | Azhdarchidae |
| Type species | |
| Azhdarcho lanciollis Nesov, 1984 | |
| Members | |
|
Basal Taxa Azhdarchinae Quetzalcoatlinae
| |
Azhdarchidae is a family of azhdarchoid pterosaurs that first appeared in the Cretaceous. Members of this clade are named azhdarchids. Currently, there are approximately 17 named genera and even more that are either debated to be housed in the family or unnamed. The type species of the family is Azhdarcho lanciollis. The most famous felids include Quetzalcoatlus, Hatzegopteryx, and Phosphatodraco. Azhdarchids are by far the largest animals to ever fly, and by extension the largest pterosaurs known.
Classification[]
The family Azhdarchidae is housed in the clade Azhdarchoidea under the superfamily Pterodactyloidea. The current closest confirmed relative of the azhdarchids is the genera Radiodactylus and Montanazhdarcho. Azhdarchidae is a sister family to Chaoyangopteridae.
There are currently 2 recognized subfamilies housed within Azhdarchidae:
- Azhdarchinae: The type subfamily of Azhdarchidae and only holds 4 known genera: Azhdarcho, Albadraco, Mistralazhdarcho, and Aerotitan.
- Quetzalcoatlinae: Holds 10 named genera, including the popular Quetzalcoatlus and Hatzegopteryx.
There are some basal azhdarchids not housed in any subfamily as well, including Palaeocursornis, Volgadraco, Navajodactylus, and Bogolubovia.
Description[]
Azhdarchids are very distinct from other pterosaurs in anatomy, characterized by their proportionally long limbs and neck along with a typically massive head, though fossil specimens are typically fragmentary outside of these appendages. All azhdarchids have large toothless beaks; beak morphology varies among genera but either are blunt and deep jawed or long and slender jawed.
Generally azhdarchids are medium to large sized creatures, though small specimens have been found at the size of a housecat. The largest recorded azhdarchid specimens have reached up to a 40 foot wingspan, and a currently undescribed specimen (possibly a specimen of Hatzegopteryx), nicknamed Dracula after its location in Transylvania, could have reached even larger sizes.