Thalassodrominae

Thalassodromines
Temporal range: Early-Late Cretaceous, 112–88 Ma
Replica skeleton of Tupuxuara leonardii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea
Clade: Tapejaromorpha
Subfamily: Thalassodrominae
Kellner, 2007
Type species
Thalassodromeus sethi
Kellner & Campos, 2002
Genera
Synonyms
  • Tupuxuaridae
    Martill, Bechly & Heads, 2007
  • Thalassodromidae
    Witton, 2009

Thalassodrominae or Thalassodromidae (meaning "sea runners", due to previous misconceptions of skimming behavior; they are now thought to be terrestrial predators) is a group of azhdarchoid pterosaurs from the Cretaceous period. Its traditional members come from Brazil, however, other possible members also come from other places, including Morocco and Argentina. Thalassodrominae is considered either to be a subfamily within the pterosaur family Tapejaridae, or as a distinct family, Thalassodromidae, within the clade Neoazhdarchia, closely related to dsungaripterids or azhdarchids.