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Pangupterus

The newest entry into the ranks of the flying reptiles, Pangupterus liui also had the oddest set of teeth of any pterosaur.
Pangupterus
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Description

The Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation from China has revealed yet another incredible pterosaur. Its name is Pangupterus liui and it has a dental array never before seen in a flying reptile. Its teeth were incredibly thin, and were set in an extremely narrow pair of jaws. Of its jaws, only the lower has been found. 

From this part, it is estimated that the animal had a 20-centimeter skull. Pangupterus might have had a 70-centimeter wingspan, small for a Cretaceous pterosaur. 

The animal bore a very thin and elongated snout. However we still don't know what it was eating or catching with those odd teeth and jaws. What we do know is that Pangupterus may have looked, for all the world, like an oversized mosquito.

Setting

Geological Age

Early Cretaceous

Environments

Jiufotang Formation

Jiufotang Formation

Locations

China

Wingspan

0.7 m (2.3 ft)

Wingspan Diagram

Credits

  • Vasi Devi
    Author
    Vasi Devi
  • Joschua Knüppe
    Artist
    Joschua Knüppe
  • Nick Garland
    Exhibit Designer
    Nick Garland