Sharovipteryx

Sharovipteryx, live reconstruction

• Central Asia ( Madygen Formation ( Kyrgyzstan ) )

• Sharovipteryx mirabilis ( Sharov, 1971)

Sharovipteryx is a genus of extinct reptiles from the Triassic diapsider of Central Asia.

Fossil remains of this animal were found in gleitfliegenden Seesedimentgesteinen the Madygen lineup, a fossil deposit in southwestern Kyrgyzstan. The only way Sharovipteryx mirabilis was 1971 on the basis of a single skeleton discovery with Flight skin impressions ( copy number PIN 2584/8 ) by Alexander Grigoryevich Sharov ( English transcription: Aleksandr Grigorevich Sharov ) is described as Podopteryx mirabilis - the generic name, however, was already awarded to an insect, so that by 1981, Cowen was renamed Sharovipteryx.

Skeletal features and systematic classification

The skeleton is preserved in dorsal view and largely complete, the bones are still in the skeleton Association. Diagnostic features of the genus and species are the significant rearward extension of the hyoid bone, a projection at the outer end of the femur and an extremely elongated shin, which in its length exceeds even the trunk of the animal.

A. G. Sharov took in 1971, it was stated that Sharovipteryx and the Longisquama also found in Madygen to thecodonte archosaurs the group Pseudosuchia, citing in Sharovipteryx alone with the clear formation of a lying forward -facing front of the hip joint pit extension of the ilium. He was the first to draw a relationship with pterodactyls and the Ornithodiren Scleromochlus into consideration.

According to a map that Leonid Tatarinov first time in 1989 met Sharovipteryx is presently considered to be representative of the Archosauromorpha group Prolacertiformes. As derived characteristics of this group, which also occur in Sharovipteryx lead to Unwin and others 2000, the extension of the cervical vertebrae and the lower cervical spinous processes. The same authors identify other features which divides the genus only with certain representatives of Prolacertiformes, including cervical ribs, which are long and slender; the presence of seven or fewer cervical vertebrae; a straight upper leg, which is shorter than the tibia; a fourth metatarsal bone, which is less than three times as long as the fifth metatarsal bone.

Skin preservation and gliding

While the extent of the area between arms and torso patagium maintenance due is uncertain, the only known fossil shows the impression of a very extensive spanned between the hind legs and the tail wing membrane ( Uropatagium ) in the folded state.

Sharovipteryx was one of the first glider, which had spanned wing membranes on the limbs; other gliding reptiles of the Permian and the Triassic as Coelurosauravus, Mecistotrachelos and Kuehneosauridae had side of the body protruding, stabilized by elongated ribs or a system of additional bone rods wings.

The position of the limb and the shape of the wings in the unfolded state has been reconstructed by the processor varies. Based on aerodynamic models beat Gary Dyke and others 2006, to be considered as Sharovipteryx a delta wing glider with separate triangular flight skins on his arms and legs.