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| Propterodacylus frankerlae Spindler, 2024 |
ABSTRACT
Based on a unique and extraordinarily preserved complete skeleton, the “Painten pro-pterodactyloid” is formally described and named as Propterodactylus frankerlae, gen. nov., spec. nov. As previously shown, it has a nearly perfect mix of plesiomorphic rhamphorhynchoid-grade, wukongopterid, and derived pterodactyloid traits. Due to its lack of autapomorphies, Propterodactylus is a sufficient intermediate taxon that closes the greatest knowledge gap regarding the evolution of pterosaur morphology. Non-pterodactyloid features include interlocking caudal vertebrae and a functional fifth pedal toe. Derived features such as the nasoantorbital fenestra, a short tail, or initially elongated cervicals and metacarpals appear ancient within the spectrum of Pterodactyloidea. Other early Monofenestrata appear more autapomorphic. However, the late juvenile or subadult status of the described specimen suggests that the rostrum, neck, and extremities might have been even more elongated when fully grown. Despite the otherwise intermediate, transitional osteology, details of dentition types appear mosaic-like in early Monofenestrata. While the remainder of the skeleton of Propterodactylus fits into known evolutionary trends, its dentition implies a significant role of varying dietary adaptation throughout the pterodactyl transition.
Keywords: new genus; new species; Pterosauria; evolution; dentition
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| Specimen DMA-JP-2011/006, holotype of Propterodacylus frankerlae, gen. nov., sp. nov. (A) under daylight condition; (B) under UV (365 nm), by courtesy of Helmut Tischlinger. Scale bars equal 5 cm. |
SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY
Order Pterosauria Owen, 1842 (for a rejection of Pterosaurii Kaup, 1834 see Seeley, 1870, 1891)
Clade Monofenestrata Lü, Unwin, Jin, Liu, and Ji, 2010
Propterodactylus gen. nov.
Remarks. The intermediate status is underlined by a lack of apparent autapomorphies. Tischlinger and Frey (2013) listed several plesiomorphic and apomorphic traits. Similarities with the derived Pterodactyloidea comprise the skull shape and short tail. Plesiomorphies shared with e.g., Wukongopteridae, which preclude Propterodactlyus from Pterodactyloidea, are the functional fifth toe and long caudal zygapophyses. Intermediate conditions apply to the cervical elongation, metacarpal elongation, and reduced fifth toe.
Etymology. The genus name refers to the informal designation as a pro-pterodactyloid in the literature, meaning a supposed forerunner (ancient Greek προ- for “before”) of the iconic Pterodactylus (latinized form of Greek πτερόν plus δάκτυλος for “wing digit”) and at the same time a forerunner of the Pterodactyloidea in general.
Propterodactylus frankerlae, gen. nov., spec. nov.
Etymology. The epithet honours Petra Hahn, née Frankerl (1966 - 2019), the wife of Stephan Hahn, who found the specimen in 2011 during the scientific excavation.
Frederik Spindler. 2024. A pterosaurian connecting link from the Late Jurassic of Germany. Palaeontologia Electronica. 27(2):a35. DOI: 10.26879/1366