Tropeognathus

Tropeognathus (meaning keel-tipped jaw) is a genus of large pterosaurs from the late Cretaceous Period of South America. The type species is Tropeognathus mesembrinus.

Discovery and naming

The holotype (BSP 1987 I 46) was discovered in the layer of Romualdo formation. Several other fossil materials were found, but these were referred to Anhanguera and Cearadactylus. In the 1980s, a German Paleontology museum in Munich procured the fossils. Then, it was named as a new genus by Peter Wellnhofer. The generic name combines "tropis" meaning keel, and "gnathos", meaning jaw. The specific name is "mesembrinos", meaning southern.

History

After it was named in 1987, other scientists considered it a part of several dinosaur genera. It was named A.mesembrinus by A.Kellner in 1989. In 2003, David Unwin made T.mesembrinus a junior synonym. In 2013, it was considered valid by Taissa Rodrigues and Alexander Kellner.

Description

It wingspan reached 8.26 meters (27.1 ft). The skull bore a distinctively convex crests on the lower end of its snout. Unlike its close relatives Coloborhynchus and Ornithocheirus, the crest on the upper jaw was more prominent and much larger. The first five dorsal vertebrae are fused into a notarium, and the front blade of the illum is directed upwards.

Classification

It is classified as a member of Tropeognathidae.

In popular culture

• "Ornithocheirus" is seen in the Walking with Dinosaurs episode "King of the Skies", in which an old male is featured as the main character. It also makes another appearance in Walking with Dinosaurs in the special "Land of Giants". Both Ornithocheirus are based on Ornithocheirus mesembrinus, which are now belived to be Tropeognathus mesembrinus, not Ornithocheirus. Tropeognathus had a wingspan of only 7-8.2 meters (23–27 feet) max, not 12 meters (40 feet). Even Ornithocheirus is only 5 meters (16.5 feet). There is no evidence that Tropeognathus or Ornithocheirus traveled the globe. Giant pterosaurs are now known to not have been consummate gliders.

• Tropeognathus can be created in Jurassic World: The Game as a common pterosaur. Its appearance on its base form is similar to the Tropeognathus in Walking with Dinosaurs.

• The Tropeognathus is also an upcoming dino in the game Ark survival evolved

Gallery

An Adult Tropeognathus “Ornithocheirus” feeding it’s chick a small fish, notice the crest on the adult's beak, the males probably used this to attract a mate.

[[Category:ARK: Survival Evolved Creatures])