Domeykodactylus
Encyclopedia
Domeykodactylus was a genus
of dsungaripterid pterodactyloid pterosaur
from the Early Cretaceous
-age Quebrada de la Carreta of Antofagasta, Chile
.
The genus was named in 2000 by David Martill, Eberhard Frey, Guillermo Chong Diaz and Charles Michael Bell. The type species
is Domeykodactylus ceciliae. The genus name is derived from the Cordillera Domeyko
and Greek daktylos, "finger" in reference to the wing finger typical of pterosaurs. The specific name honours geologist Cecilia Demargasso of the Universidad Católica del Norte
, "who was so kind to us".
Domeykodactylus is based on holotype
Departmento de Ciencias Geológicas at the Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 250973
, found in the Sierra da Candeleros. It consists of a partial mandible
; a premaxilla
, present in the same rock, is referred to it as paratype
. The fossil had at first been thought to belong to Pterodaustro
. Domeykodactylus had a crest running along the top of the premaxilla. The bone structure of the crest consists of vertical trabecula
e, narrow struts; it was this texture that had originally been mistaken for the fine filter teeth of Pterodaustro.
The mandible has a short symphysis
. There are sixteen tooth sockets, from which the teeth themselves have been lost, in each dentary. The sockets are narrow, oval and slightly elevated, with a raised margin, above the level of the jaw. The teeth were probably small and towards the back more widely spaced and declining in size.
The skull length has been estimated at thirty centimetres and the wingspan at one metre (3.28 ft).
The describers found Domeykodactylus similar to both the Ctenochasmatidae
and Dsungaripteridae
in the crest; because of the elevated tooth sockets it was assigned to the latter group. It was the first published example of a dsungapterid in South America
, most other members of the family
being from Asia
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of dsungaripterid pterodactyloid pterosaur
Pterosaur
Pterosaurs were flying reptiles of the clade or order Pterosauria. They existed from the late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous Period . Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight...
from the Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous
The Early Cretaceous or the Lower Cretaceous , is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous...
-age Quebrada de la Carreta of Antofagasta, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
The genus was named in 2000 by David Martill, Eberhard Frey, Guillermo Chong Diaz and Charles Michael Bell. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is Domeykodactylus ceciliae. The genus name is derived from the Cordillera Domeyko
Cordillera Domeyko
The Cordillera Domeyko is a mountain range of the Andes located in northern Chile, west of Salar de Atacama. It runs north-south for approximately 600 km, parallel to the main chain...
and Greek daktylos, "finger" in reference to the wing finger typical of pterosaurs. The specific name honours geologist Cecilia Demargasso of the Universidad Católica del Norte
Universidad Católica del Norte
Católica del Norte University is a university in Chile. It is part of the Chilean Traditional Universities. It is located in Antofagasta, Chile.Católica del Norte University was founded on May 31, 1956.The current rector is Misael Camus Ibacache....
, "who was so kind to us".
Domeykodactylus is based on holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
Departmento de Ciencias Geológicas at the Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 250973
Universidad Católica del Norte
Católica del Norte University is a university in Chile. It is part of the Chilean Traditional Universities. It is located in Antofagasta, Chile.Católica del Norte University was founded on May 31, 1956.The current rector is Misael Camus Ibacache....
, found in the Sierra da Candeleros. It consists of a partial mandible
Mandible
The mandible pronunciation or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place...
; a premaxilla
Premaxilla
The incisive bone is the portion of the maxilla adjacent to the incisors. It is a pair of small cranial bones at the very tip of the jaws of many animals, usually bearing teeth, but not always. They are connected to the maxilla and the nasals....
, present in the same rock, is referred to it as paratype
Paratype
Paratype is a technical term used in the scientific naming of species and other taxa of organisms. The exact meaning of the term paratype when it is used in zoology is not the same as the meaning when it is used in botany...
. The fossil had at first been thought to belong to Pterodaustro
Pterodaustro
Pterodaustro is a genus of Cretaceous pterodactyloid pterosaur from South America, which lived 105 million years ago.-Naming:The genus was named in 1969 by José Bonaparte as an as yet undescribed nomen nudum. The first description followed in 1970, making the name valid, the type species being...
. Domeykodactylus had a crest running along the top of the premaxilla. The bone structure of the crest consists of vertical trabecula
Trabecula
A trabecula is a small, often microscopic, tissue element in the form of a small beam, strut or rod, generally having a mechanical function, and usually composed of dense collagenous tissue They can be composed of other materials; in the heart, for example, muscles such as trabeculae carneae...
e, narrow struts; it was this texture that had originally been mistaken for the fine filter teeth of Pterodaustro.
The mandible has a short symphysis
Symphysis
A symphysis is a fibrocartilaginous fusion between two bones. It is a type of cartilaginous joint, specifically a secondary cartilaginous joint.1.A symphysis is an amphiarthrosis, a slightly movable joint.2.A growing together of parts or structures...
. There are sixteen tooth sockets, from which the teeth themselves have been lost, in each dentary. The sockets are narrow, oval and slightly elevated, with a raised margin, above the level of the jaw. The teeth were probably small and towards the back more widely spaced and declining in size.
The skull length has been estimated at thirty centimetres and the wingspan at one metre (3.28 ft).
The describers found Domeykodactylus similar to both the Ctenochasmatidae
Ctenochasmatidae
Ctenochasmatidae is a group of pterosaurs within the suborder Pterodactyloidea.-Classification:Listing of subfamilies and genera after Unwin 2006 unless otherwise noted.* Family Ctenochasmatidae** Elanodactylus** Gegepterus...
and Dsungaripteridae
Dsungaripteridae
Dsungaripteridae is a group of pterosaurs within the suborder Pterodactyloidea....
in the crest; because of the elevated tooth sockets it was assigned to the latter group. It was the first published example of a dsungapterid in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, most other members of the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
being from Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
External links
- Domeykodactylus in The Pterosauria