Tropeognathus

Tropeognathus
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous (Albian), 112 Ma
Reconstructed skeleton, National Museum of Brazil
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea
Family: Anhangueridae
Subfamily: Tropeognathinae
Genus: Tropeognathus
Wellnhofer, 1987
Type species
Tropeognathus mesembrinus
Wellnhofer, 1987
Synonyms

Tropeognathus (meaning "keel jaw") is a genus of large pterosaurs from the late Early Cretaceous of South America. This genus is considered to be a member of the family Anhangueridae, however, several studies have also recovered it within another family called Ornithocheiridae. Both of these families are diverse groups of pterosaurs known for their keel-tipped snouts and large size. Tropeognathus is regarded as the largest pterosaur found in the Southern Hemisphere, only rivaled by the huge azhdarchids.[1] The type and only species is Tropeognathus mesembrinus. Fossil remains of Tropeognathus have been recovered from the Romualdo Formation, which is a Lagerstätte located in the Santana Group of the Araripe Basin in northeastern Brazil.[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference kellneretal2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Veldmeijer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).