A new early monofenestratan pterosaur from the Mörnsheim Formation of southern Germany

A number of new early monofenestratan pterosaurs have recently been described from the Late Jurassic Mörnsheim Formation of Southern Germany, greatly expanding our knowledge of the diversity and evolution of this group. Here, another new taxon from this grade is described and named from the formation: Laueropterus vitriolus gen. et sp. nov. The animal is represented by a near complete and well-preserved adult individual that is mostly disarticulated. The species has a large wingspan compared to other members of the grade of c. one m. In a series of limestone beds with distinct preservation and taphonomy compared to the ‘traditional’ Solnhofen archipelago, the animal provides increasing evidence of a later fauna in the region that is dominated by early monofenestratans.