Azhdarchidae

Azhdarchids Temporal range: Cretaceous, 92–66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Possible Early Cretaceous record[1]
Reconstructed skeleton of Quetzalcoatlus northropi
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	†Pterosauria
Suborder:	†Pterodactyloidea
Clade:	†Azhdarchiformes
Family:	†Azhdarchidae Nesov, 1984
Type species
†Azhdarcho lancicollis Nesov, 1984
Genera
†Alanqa? †Argentinadraco? †Bogolubovia? †Montanazhdarcho? †Navajodactylus? †Palaeocursornis †Tethydraco? †Volgadraco? †Azhdarchinae †Aerotitan? †Albadraco? †Azhdarcho †Mistralazhdarcho? †Quetzalcoatlinae †Aralazhdarcho? †Arambourgiania †Cryodrakon †Eurazhdarcho? †Hatzegopteryx †Phosphatodraco? †Quetzalcoatlus †Thanatosdrakon †Wellnhopterus †Zhejiangopterus?
Synonyms
"Titanopterygiidae" Padian, 1984 (preoccupied)

Azhdarchidae (from the Persian word azhdar, اژدر, a dragon-like creature in Persian mythology) is a family of pterosaurs known primarily from the Late Cretaceous Period, though an isolated vertebra apparently from an azhdarchid is known from the Early Cretaceous as well (late Berriasian age, about 140 million years ago).^[1] Azhdarchids are mainly known for including some of the largest flying animals discovered, but smaller cat-size members have also been found.^[2] Originally considered a sub-family of Pteranodontidae, Nesov (1984)^[3] named the Azhdarchinae to include the pterosaurs Azhdarcho, Quetzalcoatlus, and Titanopteryx (now known as Arambourgiania). They were among the last known surviving members of the pterosaurs, and were a rather successful group with a worldwide distribution. Previously it was thought that by the end of the Cretaceous, most pterosaur families except for the Azhdarchidae disappeared from the fossil record,^[4] but recent studies indicate a wealth of pterosaurian fauna, including pteranodontids, nyctosaurids, tapejarids and several indeterminate forms.^[5] In several analyses, some taxa such as Navajodactylus, Bakonydraco and Montanazhdarcho were moved from Azhdarchidae to other clades.^[6][7][8]