Life reconstruction of Thapunngaka shawi. Image credit: Richards et al
Thapunngaka is an extinct genus of anhanguerid pterosaur that lived in Australia during the Early Cretaceous.
Description[]
The pterosaur nicknamed the "Fearsome Dragon" by press, Thapunngaka shawi is Australia's largest known pterosaur. The large bony crest found on its lower jaw is the third largest in the world.
The new species presents features that indicate an affinity with Anhangueridae, which is consistent with their reported cosmopolitan distribution during this period. Thapunngaka shawi can be distinguished from other anhanguerids through the possession of a mandible with a smooth dorsal surface medially and uniquely sized alveoli that are positioned laterally along the jaw. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a close relationship among all Australian anhanguerids and points to an endemic Australian radiation within Anhangueridae. Thapunngaka shawi has the largest mandibular crest of any anhanguerian worldwide, and provides further evidence for the existence of an increasingly diverse range of large crested pterosaurs in the Australian part of eastern Gondwana during the Cretaceous.