Sordes

Sordes pilosus, live reconstruction

• Central Asia ( Kazakhstan)

Sordes ( " devil ", " evil spirit " ) is a genus long-tailed pterosaur from the Upper Jurassic. The genus was established in 1971 by the Soviet paleontologist Alexander Grigoryevich Sharov ( English transcription: Aleksandr Sharov Grigorevich ) erected. Only the type species S. pilosus ( " hairy devil " ) has previously been described scientifically.

Sharov sought in the 1960s fossil insects in the Upper Jurassic strata in the mountains near Qaratau in Kazakhstan. He found the fossil of a very well-preserved pterosaur, which also marks the soft body, the flight membrane and hair-like structures were obtained. The Fund supported the theory that pterosaurs were endothermic and wore an insulating coat. The coat of sordes covered the body, the flight membrane, the membrane between the hind legs and the toes. The Body was the longest with hair lengths from six millimeters. A total of three specimens were found by sordes so far.

The wingspan of S. pilosus was 63 centimeters, the metacarpals were short, as with all Rhamphorhynchidae, the skull eight inches long. The teeth had a large gap in the jaw, were short and upright. The fifth toe of the hind legs was particularly long and hook-shaped.

Sordes was probably insect or fish eaters. Skull and dentition are very similar to that of Scaphognathus from the Solnhofen limestone. A close relationship is therefore assumed.