On the systematics and phylogenetic nomenclature of the Ornithocheiriformes (Pterosauria, Pteranodontoidea)

Ornithocheiriformes (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea, Lanceodontia) is the clade comprising all species closer to Ornithocheirus simus than Istiodactylus latidens.This group includes, in a broad sense, all forms usually regarded as close relatives of Ornithocheirus simus, Coloborhynchus clavirostris, and/or Anhanguera blittersdorffi.This group suffers from complex and controversial nomenclatorial problems since the early days of pterosaur science.The recent adherence to the PhyloCode in pterosaur nomenclatorial works provides a basis for a solid standardization of clade names and definitions, even though their stability may sometimes be sensitive to differing phylogenetic hypotheses.The present work aims at integrating/conciliating the convoluted nomenclature of Ornithocheiriformes into both the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) and the International Code of Phylogenetic Nomenclature (Phy-loCode), to prevent equivalent clades from having different names under each Code, especially when registered definitions are applied to distinct phylogenetic hypotheses.