A large pterosaur from the Middle Jurassic (lower Bajocian) of Rutland, United Kingdom

An incomplete, but large hollow bone is identified as pterosaurian on account of its pneumatic nature, thin bone wall, palaeohistology and the characteristic surface texture of the peridermal bone. Despite being incomplete it is tentatively identified as a ?left ulna, and is remarkable for its size. Coming from the lower Middle Jurassic Lincolnshire Limestone Formation of Rutland, eastern England, this is the first record anywhere in the World of a Bajocian pterosaur, and probably the first pterosaur recorded from Rutland. It is most likely from Discites to Laeviuscula zones part of the lower Bajocian succession, and represents one of the largest Jurassic pterosaurs yet recorded, with a wingspan tentatively estimated at between 3.5 and 4.0 m. The taxonomic identity of the new specimen is uncertain, but it is likely allied to the Pterodactyloidea on account of its size, although presently it remains Pterosauria fam. et gen., et sp. indet.

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Publication Details

Journal
Proceedings of the Geologists Association
Published
2024-10-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2024.09.003
Primary Topic
Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
Type
article
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article

A large pterosaur from the Middle Jurassic (lower Bajocian) of Rutland, United Kingdom

C. Wood, Richard Forrest, Roy E. Smith, David M. Martill et al.
Proceedings of the Geologists Association
Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
article

A large pterosaur from the Middle Jurassic (lower Bajocian) of Rutland, United Kingdom

C. Wood, Richard Forrest, Roy E. Smith, David M. Martill, Michael Ashton, Anusuya Chinsamy, Darren Withers
article en

Abstract

An incomplete, but large hollow bone is identified as pterosaurian on account of its pneumatic nature, thin bone wall, palaeohistology and the characteristic surface texture of the peridermal bone. Despite being incomplete it is tentatively identified as a ?left ulna, and is remarkable for its size. Coming from the lower Middle Jurassic Lincolnshire Limestone Formation of Rutland, eastern England, this is the first record anywhere in the World of a Bajocian pterosaur, and probably the first pterosaur recorded from Rutland. It is most likely from Discites to Laeviuscula zones part of the lower Bajocian succession, and represents one of the largest Jurassic pterosaurs yet recorded, with a wingspan tentatively estimated at between 3.5 and 4.0 m. The taxonomic identity of the new specimen is uncertain, but it is likely allied to the Pterodactyloidea on account of its size, although presently it remains Pterosauria fam. et gen., et sp. indet.

Proceedings of the Geologists AssociationVol. 135(6)
Rhodes University (ZA), Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Nottingham Trent University (GB), University of Portsmouth (GB), Food Standards Agency (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 95%
Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
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