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| Ordosipterus planignathus Ji, 2020 DOI: 10.31035/cg2020007 Illustration by Chuang Zhao. |
ABSTRACT
A new dsungaripterid pterosaur, Ordosipterus planignathus gen. et sp. nov., is established on the incomplete articulated lower jaws from the Lower Cretaceous Luohandong Formation in Otog Qi, Ordos Region, Inner Mongolia, China. It differs from other dsungaripterids mainly by having broad and low dentary at and just behind the mandibular symphysis, flat dentary dorsal plane forming the distinct lateral ridge with the curved dentary lateral side, and lower alveoli arranged along the dentary dorsolateral margin with wide spacing that increases from rostral to caudal. It represents the first diagnostic pterosaur from the Ordos Region in Inner Mongolia, and further enlarges the geographical distribution of the family Dsungaripteridae from northwestern China (together with western Mongolia) to central North China.
Keywords: Pterosauria, Dsungaripteridae, Early Cretaceous, Ordos Region, Inner Mongolia, China
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| Figure 2. Holotype (IG V13-011) of Ordosipterus planignathus gen. et sp. nov., incomplete articulated lower jaws. a–dorsal view; b–left lateral view; c–ventral view. |
Order Pterosauria Kaup, 1834
Suborder Pterodactyloidea Plieninger, 1901
Family Dsungaripteridae Young, 1964
Genus Ordosipterus gen. nov.
Type species. Ordosipterus planignathus gen. et sp. nov.
Etymology. Ordos, referring to the Ordos Region of Inner Mongolia; pterus (Greek), meaning wing, the common suffix of pterosaur taxa.
Ordosipterus planignathus gen. et sp. nov.
Etymology. Plani- (Latin) and gnathus (Greek), meaning flat and jaw, referring to the flat lower jaws of the new pterosaur.
Holotype. IG V13-011 (Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences), anterior portion of articulated lower jaws with a partial tooth and several alveoli (Figs. 2, 3).
Type locality and horizon. Xinzhao, Otog Qi, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China; lower part of Luohandong Formation, Zhidan Group, Lower Cretaceous.
Diagnosis: Distinguished from other dsungaripterids in having broad and low dentary at and just behind the mandibular symphysis, a weak ventral median ridge present at least at the middle portion of symphysis, flat dentary dorsal plane forming the distinct lateral ridge with the curved dentary lateral side, lower alveoli arranged along the dentary dorsolateral margin with wide spacing that increases from rostral to caudal, the distance between two adjacent alveoli about 1.5 times to 3 times the rostrocaudal diameter of the front alveolus.
Conclusion:
The Early Cretaceous Ordosipterus planignathus gen. et sp. nov. represents the first convincible pterosaur from the Ordos Region in Inner Mongolia, and the second pterosaur taxon from the Ordos Basin after Huanhepterus quingyangensis in Gansu Province. As a member of family Dsungaripteridae, Ordosipterus enlarges the geographical distribution of the dsungaripterid pterosaurs from the northwestern China (with western Mongolia) to central North China. This fossil further strengthens the opinion that the northern China and Mongolia belong to a unique and endemic dinosaur biogeographic realm featured by the presence of Psittacosaurus and pterosaurs during the Early Cretaceous period.
Shu-An Ji. 2020. First Record of Early Cretaceous Pterosaur from the Ordos Region, Inner Mongolia, China. China Geology. 3(1); 1-7. DOI: 10.31035/cg2020007
