About This Project

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

The pterosaur 'Pterodactylus' micronyx was known from about a dozen small and immature specimens from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone of southern Germany. In a paper published in 1996 I noted that it did not belong in the genus Pterodactylus and probably was the same as Gnathosaurus subulatus, which is known from a few isolated large skulls. In a taxonomic revision of Pterodactylus published in early 2013, I examined skull and limb measurements of 'Pterodactylus' micronyx specimens, found that most had proportions similar to a large headless skeleton recently described as Aurorazhdarcho primordius, and combined the 'Pterodactylus' micronyx and Aurorazhdarcho primordius specimens under the name Aurorazhdarcho micronyx. However, two immature specimens have different proportions from the rest and may represent a new species or genus. I put off dealing with those two different specimens until all specimens of Aurorazhdarcho micronyx and Gnathosaurus subulatus could be restudied, and this project will do just that.

A more detailed description of the project from a previous proposal is available here.

What is the significance of this project?

The research is significant for two main reasons:

1) If the two different specimens in the sample of Aurorazhdarcho micronyx do represent a new species, it will be the first new species found in the Solnhofen Limestone in over 80 years.

2) If the Gnathosaurus subulatus skulls can be associated with Aurorazhdarcho micronyx or the possible new species, that will complete the taxonomic revision of the Solnhofen pterosaur fauna that I have been working on since 1993.

The Solnhofen Limestone of southern Germany is important to the study of pterosaurs because it provides the best view of an Upper Jurassic pterosaur fauna by way of hundreds of excellently preserved specimens that reveal their anatomy including soft tissues and wing structure, pattern of growth, and diversity, and the micronyx-Gnathosaurus problem is the last taxonomic loose end to tie up.

What are the goals of the project?

The goals of this project are:

1) to study the available specimens of the pterosaur Aurorazhdarcho micronyx and determine whether there is a new species mixed in the sample.

2) to search for evidence that can associate Gnathosaurus subulatus skulls with Aurorazhdarcho micronyx or the possible new species.

I will provide lab notes monthly before the research travel, at least weekly during the museum visits, and as needed afterward.