Azhdarcho

Azhdarcho
Temporal range: Turonian, 92 Ma
Fragment of a right ulna
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea
Family: Azhdarchidae
Subfamily: Azhdarchinae
Nesov, 1984
Genus: Azhdarcho
Nesov, 1984
Species:
A. lancicollis
Binomial name
Azhdarcho lancicollis
Nesov, 1984

Azhdarcho /ɑːʒˈdɑːrx/ is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of the Bissekty Formation (middle Turonian stage,[1] about 92 million years ago) of Uzbekistan, as well as the Zhirkindek Formation of Kazakhstan and possibly also the Ialovachsk Formation of Tajikistan. It is known from fragmentary remains including the distinctive, elongated neck vertebrae that characterizes members of the family Azhdarchidae, a family that includes many giant pterosaurs such as Quetzalcoatlus. The name Azhdarcho comes from the Persian word azhdar (اژدر), a dragon-like creature in Persian mythology.[2] The type species is Azhdarcho lancicollis. The specific epithet lancicollis is derived from the Latin words lancea (meaning "lance" or "spear") and collum ("neck").

  1. ^ Averianov, A.O. (2010). "The osteology of Azhdarcho lancicollis Nessov, 1984 (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Uzbekistan" (PDF). Proceedings of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 314 (3): 246–317.
  2. ^ Khan, Amina (August 19, 2014). "Toothless 'dragon' pterosaurs once ruled skies worldwide, study says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 26, 2014.