科學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn)幾年前在巴西發(fā)現(xiàn)的部分頭骨化石乃是一個(gè)新的飛行爬行動(dòng)物種群,，據(jù)估計(jì)，它們的翼展相當(dāng)于一輛家用汽車,。英國樸次茅斯大學(xué)研究員馬克·維頓(Mark Witton)證實(shí),，這種飛行爬行動(dòng)物是一種新翼龍，同時(shí)也是已發(fā)現(xiàn)的個(gè)頭最大的翼龍家族成員,。經(jīng)分析,，新翼龍?jiān)?jīng)在1.15億年前翱翔于巴西藍(lán)天之上。據(jù)維頓估計(jì)，這種翼龍的翼展可達(dá)到16.4英尺(5米),，肩高超過39英寸(1米),。
在巴西發(fā)現(xiàn)的部分頭骨化石是在中國以外地區(qū)發(fā)現(xiàn)的第一個(gè)無齒翼龍chaoyangopteridae化石。維頓說：“此前在中國發(fā)現(xiàn)的一些無齒翼龍家族成員身長只有60厘米(兩英尺),，與這個(gè)新發(fā)現(xiàn)的種群頭骨一般大小,。簡單地說，我們能夠在幾英里遠(yuǎn)的地方發(fā)現(xiàn)它們的身影,，其它任何chaoyangopterid與之相比都變成了‘侏儒’,。”維頓以遺骨埋葬地點(diǎn)——大面積水域?qū)⑦@種新翼龍命名為“Lacusovagus”，意為湖泊迷失者,。
位于巴西東北部地區(qū)的阿拉里皮盆地素以“盛產(chǎn)”化石著稱于世,。幾年前，科學(xué)家在這個(gè)盆地發(fā)現(xiàn)了這個(gè)新翼龍頭骨化石,，化石隨后被德國一家博物館收藏,。維頓說：“通常情況下，類似這樣的化石在被發(fā)現(xiàn)時(shí)均保持側(cè)臥姿勢,，但這個(gè)化石卻是呈倒立姿態(tài)并且曾受到擠壓,，這就為判斷其是否擁有牙齒增加了難度。但我們?nèi)钥梢院苊黠@地看到這個(gè)Lacusovagus的頭骨擁有不同尋常的寬度,，這暗示了它的飲食習(xí)慣，可能尤其喜歡大型獵物,。由于遺骨非常不完整,，在得出任何結(jié)論前，我們還需找到更多樣本,。巴西的這一發(fā)現(xiàn)——與在中國發(fā)現(xiàn)的血緣關(guān)系最近的物種相隔萬里——說明,，我們實(shí)際上對這個(gè)令人著迷的動(dòng)物種群分部以及近化史知之甚少。”Witton的發(fā)現(xiàn)刊登在11月出版的《古生物學(xué)》雜志上,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Palaeontology,，doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00811.x，MARK P. WITTON
A NEW AZHDARCHOID PTEROSAUR FROM THE CRATO FORMATION (LOWER CRETACEOUS, APTIAN?) OF BRAZIL
MARK P. WITTON
Palaeobiology Research Group, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Building, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth PO1 3QL, UK;
ABSTRACT
Abstract: A partial pterosaur skull from the Nova Olinda Member of the Crato Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Aptian?) represents a new edentulous pterodactyloid, Lacusovagus magnificens gen. et sp. nov. The absence of teeth and a large nasoantorbital fenestra suggest assignment to Azhdarchoidea, and the combination of a particularly short, crestless and shallow rostrum and laterally flared jaw margins distinguish it from other azhdarchoid taxa. The position of the new form within Azhdarchoidea is problematic: Lacusovagus is distinguished from Tapejaridae in its straight, as opposed to ventrally displaced, jaw tip and absence of a premaxillary crest; from thalassodromids by the absence of a premaxillary crest; and from Azhdarchidae by the short length of the rostrum and shallow posterodorsal extension of the premaxilla. Lacusovagus shares a shallow, crestless rostrum and a slender posterodorsal premaxillary extension with Jiufotang Formation azhdarchoids such as Chaoyangopterus and Jidapterus. The position of these genera within Azhdarchoidea is controversial, but the suite of plesiomorphic and derived azhdarchoid characters in each suggests a placement between Tapejaridae and Neoazhdarchia. Further research is required, however, to determine the relationships of these genera both to each other and to other azhdarchoids. The new taxon elevates the faunal similarity found between the roughly contemporaneous Jiufotang and Crato formations and continues the pattern of Crato Formation azhdarchoids being much larger than those from the Jehol Group. It also has jaws at least 67 and 55 per cent longer, respectively, than those of the largest azhdarchoids and ornithocheirids from the Crato pterosaur assemblage, making Lacusovagus the largest pterosaur known from this unit.
