Tupuxuara was a diurnal pterosaur that lived close to the sea, and is thought to have hunted for fish. The elaborate crest shows evidence of an extensive network of blood vessels. Although possibly for thermoregulation, a more likely scenario is that Tupuxuara flushed blood into its crest to produce a striking and vivid colour display. Study of different specimens has suggested that the crest got larger as the individual grew to indicate reproductive maturity, a common trait among crested pterosaurs.
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