Anhanguera (pterosaur)
Reconstructed skeleton of Anhanguera in quadrupeder position in the North American Museum of Ancient Life
Anhanguera is a genus of pterosaur ( Pterosauria ), according to the fossil record from the Brazilian Santana Formation 1985 - was described - a fossil deposit from the lower and upper chalk. The name comes from the Tupi Anhanguera, the language of the local Indians, and means " Old Heck " ( ANNEX A - devil; nera - old). Anhanguera is one of the most researched pterosaurs of the Cretaceous period. Known are several incomplete skeletons and skulls.
Features
Anhanguera had a slender skull, which was half a meter long. On the front upper jaw was a bone comb, the lower jaw of the type specimen is not obtained. Anhanguera could reach a wingspan of four meters, however, the hull was only 24 cm long. A three-dimensional reconstruction of the pelvis shows that Anhanguera could not put directly under your body its hind legs and therefore not biped could walk ( on two legs ). Rather, his legs stuck out sideways, forcing the animals to a quadrupedal gait manner. Various species have been described, which differ mainly in the position of the bone crest. However, this could also be a gender difference.
Species
- Anhanguera blittersdorffi ( type species )
- Anhanguera ligabuei
- Anhanguera piscator
- Anhanguera santanae ( Syn: Araripesaurus santanae )