Sunday, October 11, 2015

October unleashed. Sinopterus

 Aside from being the first tapejarid pterosaur discovered outside of Brazil,‭ ‬Sinopterus also represents one of the earliest and‭ ‬most complete.‭ ‬Sinopterus had a toothless bony beak and bony crest that runs from the premaxilla to the middle of the skull.‭ ‬The crest is then thought to extend upwards.‭ ‬Sinopterus is thought to have been an omnivore,‭ ‬with fruit perhaps forming an important part of its diet.
       Another species,‭ ‬Sinopterus gui,‭ ‬is now thought to represent a younger individual of S.‭ ‬dongi.‭ ‬Some also consider that the smallest currently known pterosaur Nemicolopterus which also comes from the same Jiufotang Formation,‭ ‬may also represent a juvenile Sinopterus.‭ ‬As always,‭ ‬more fossils and study will be required for both of these pterosaurs.

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